Read the Penn State News article here to learn more about this project founded and led by Dr. Glenn Sterner, Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice at Penn State Abington, CJRC Commonwealth Faculty Affiliate and Postdoctoral Scholar Alumni, and Consortium to Combat Substance Abuse (CCSA) affiliated faculty member.
The Share Your Opioid Story Initiative has advanced from focusing primarily on substance use and stigma and has transitioned into an initiative with a strong foundation in story-sharing and empowerment. What started as a Pennsylvania initiative focusing on opioid use disorder and the opioid epidemic has blossomed into a national movement featuring stories of all walks of life from all over the United States. We have established The Story Powered Initiative for individuals across the nation and beyond to share their experiences with all forms of stigma.
Through our work to address stigma associated with the opioid crisis, we realized now more than ever that stigma continues to impact many of our community members, not just those within the substance use disorder community. Individuals face discrimination and stigma daily regarding their race, ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation. We also recognize that those who are justice involved, have an intellectual or physical disability, experience a mental health diagnosis, and many others are often left behind. Through The Story Powered Initiative we invite those who have experienced stigma at a personal, social, or systemic level to share their story and let their voice be heard.
The Substance Use Stigma Reduction Collaborative, a working group within The Consortium to Combat Substance Use at Penn State University, has developed a collective of key faculty members and practitioners dedicated to research, outreach, and teaching surrounding stigma. The Story Powered Initiative is one of many efforts, as part of the Collaborative, that seeks to enhance partnerships to engage in highly impactful research, create and implement evidence-based practices, and host community events that can reduce stigma.
Visit The Story Powered Initiative to learn more. Please contact Dr. Glenn Sterner at ges5098@psu.edu if you would like to be involved as we work to address stigma, one story at a time.
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