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Special Funding Opportunity for Researchers Working in Practitioner Organizations (Updated)
JCOIN Grants for Practitioner-led Addiction Services Research and Evaluation Initiatives for Justice Impacted Individuals Are you a researcher who works in a practitioner, non-profit, or service organization? JCOIN has a special initiative to provide small grants through the JCOIN Rapid Innovation Grants (J-RIG) funding opportunity. The five-page applications are due by September 30, 2026; the…
Read MoreGuidance for Using Non-Stigmatizing Imagery for Substance Use Disorders and Legal Involvement
Modifying imagery used to describe and represent individuals with a substance use disorder or criminal legal involvement is an intervention that researchers, institutions, and other perceivers can implement. Stigmatizing imagery can contribute to the stereotypes of addiction and potentially trigger trauma or relapse among individuals in recovery from a substance use disorder or who have…
Read MoreThe Stories We Tell: Support Groups & Other People Who Use Drugs (New Aced It Episode)
In this episode, I focus on how people recovery communities and people who use drugs shape their own narratives around substance use, overdose, and recovery. I explore how distinctions within these communities can act as barriers to support, while emphasizing that recovery does not follow a single path. I also highlight the growing role of…
Read MoreThe Stories We Tell: Academia & Professional Networks (New Aced It Episode)
In this episode, I examine how academic research and professional networks contribute to the broader conversation surrounding substance use and overdose. I explore how research is shaped by professional norms, how lived experience is often excluded or kept private, and how knowledge moves beyond the university into practice. The episode considers how communication, collaboration, and…
Read MoreThe Stories We Tell: Criminal Legal System Professionals (New Aced It Episode)
In this episode, I explore how criminal legal professionals, including police, correctional staff, and judges, shape responses to substance use and overdose. I examine how everyday decisions are influenced by professional beliefs, organizational environments, and resource constraints. This episode highlights how these factors can affect overdose response, treatment access, and sentencing. It also emphasizes the…
Read MoreThe Stories We Tell: Healthcare Professionals (New Aced It Episode)
In this episode, I examine how healthcare professionals shape patient experiences and treatment outcomes for substance use disorders. Drawing on research, I explore how provider beliefs, training, and workplace pressures influence interactions with patients, including how care is delivered and received. I also consider how these dynamics can affect access to treatment and what changes…
Read MoreThe Stories We Tell: Public & Governmental Campaigns (New Aced It Episode)
In this episode, I talk about how public and governmental campaigns shape perceptions of drug use and overdose. I examine how different messaging strategies, such as empathy-based storytelling, education, and fear-based approaches, impact stigma, knowledge, and behavior. I also explore how these campaigns can both challenge and reinforce inequality, and what they reveal about how…
Read MoreThe Stories We Tell: Political Framing (New Aced It Episode)
In this episode, I examine how political actors, institutions, and public discourse shape the way we understand drugs and overdose. I explore how different narratives, such as criminalization, public health, and stigma, affect public opinion, policy decisions, and access to care. I also consider how these political frames influence real-world outcomes, including resource allocation and…
Read MoreThe Stories We Tell: Pop Culture (New Aced It Episode)
In this episode, I explore how pop culture, through movies, television, music, and social media, shapes the way we understand drug use and overdose. I highlight how these portrayals often simplify or distort reality, reinforcing stereotypes and stigma. The episode also examines how these narratives influence public opinion, policy responses, and individuals’ willingness to seek…
Read MoreThe Stories We Tell: Social Media (New Aced It Episode)
In this episode, I talk about how social media shapes the way people understand drugs, addiction, and overdose, highlighting both the risks and opportunities of these platforms. I break down how online spaces can spread stigma and misinformation, but also provide support, community, and harm-reduction information for people navigating substance use. I also explore how…
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