DEBUNKED: Recent Episodes
Tom Williams
DEBUNKED is the only Utah podcast combining evidence-based health practices with storytelling to dispel harmful myths and stereotypes about people who use drugs, persons in recovery, and evidenced-based harm reduction efforts. Our mission is to foster understanding and reduce stigma. Every episode features the voices of people directly affected, researchers and medical professionals, and community partners. Our aim is to nurture an open dialogue around what has been a taboo topic in Utah for far too long. DEBUNKED is a project of the Tribal and Rural Opioid Initiative, housed in the Office of Health Equity and Community Engagement of the Utah State University College of Education and Human Services, Department of Kinesiology and Health Science, in partnership with USU Extension. The Tribal and Rural Opioid Initiative (TROI), promotes evidence-based best practices across the state of Utah in an attempt to reduce the burden of the opioid crisis in our home state, particularly in our tribal and rural communities. Our 12-person editorial board is made up of local individuals from tribal communities, harm reduction organizations, substance use treatment programs, Extension professionals, and public health experts. Utah Public Radio produces the podcast, with support from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Rural Opioid Technical Assistance program.
On the next Access Utah we’ll partner with DEBUNKED for a conversation with Valentina Sireech, Member of Ute Tribe and Program Coordinator for the Tribal & Rural Opioid Initiative Resource Center with USU Extension - Roosevelt Office. Her passion is to inspire Indigenous and Rural communities to create art as a form of healthy healing. We’ll also be talking with Larry Cesspooch, Ute Filmmaker/Storyteller/Spiritual Leader, who uses all forms of media to tell his stories, film, music, and lecture.
Stigma is a major barrier to recovery, because people don’t want to be labeled as “junkies” and experience social exclusion when they ask for help. What can we do?
Over the course of this season, we debunked myths surrounding harm reduction, substance use disorders and homelessness within our tribal and rural communities. This recap illustrates the negative impact that stereotypes can spread through communities, and the heartfelt narratives of those who work every day to heal those wounds. We worked hard to prove that harm reduction builds healthier communities, is more effective in reducing overdose deaths and infectious disease and promotes a better understanding of opioid use disorder.
Today we are presenting our sixth live episode of Debunked, the only Utah podcast combining evidence-based health practices with storytelling to challenge the stereotypes, and debunk the myths about harm reduction, substance use disorders and homelessness.
Today we present a live episode of the Debunked Podcast. Host Tom Williams and Debunked Podcast host Don Lyons welcome Mary Jo McMillen, Executive Director of USARA (Utah Support Advocates for Recovery Awareness) and Ashanti Moritz, Outreach Director for the Skull Valley Band of Goshutes' Warrior Spirit Recovery Center to debunk the myth “indigenous and non-indigenous groups can't work together to solve social problems.”
Next time on Access Utah, we’ll present another live episode of Debunked, the only Utah podcast combining evidence-based health practices with storytelling to challenge the stereotypes, and debunk the myths about harm reduction, substance use disorders and homelessness. This time we’re debunking the myth, “There are plenty of resources but people just don’t want the help.”
Utah residents are facing a housing shortage in virtually every community and a segment of our population struggles with housing insecurity on a regular basis, partially associated with stigma and shame. Some don't fully understand the obstacles many have overcome. On the next Access Utah we’ll present another live episode of the podcast Debunked. We’ll be debunking the myth: Homeless people are lazy and don’t want to work.
Today we bring you another live episode of DEBUNKED, a podcast combining evidence-based health practices with storytelling to challenge the stereotypes, and debunk the myths about harm reduction, substance use disorders and homelessness. We will be coming to you live from the 2021 Intermountain Tribal and Rural Opioid Wellness Summit: Bridging Harm Reduction and Recovery Communities.
Something exciting today: a live episode of the podcast DEBUNKED which seeks to dispel harmful myths and stereotypes about people who use drugs, persons in recovery, and evidenced-based harm reduction efforts. Today we’ll debunk the myth; Native Americans only live on reservations. Our guests are: Sandy Sulzer, Director of the Office of Health Equity and Community Engagement at USU; Kristina Groves, LCSW, Ute/Hopi Tribe, Therapist at Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake; and podcast host Don Lyons.
The season one finale of Debunked features highlights from four of our most acclaimed episodes. These clips illustrate the negative impact that stereotypical beliefs can spread through communities and the heartfelt narratives of those who work every day to heal those wounds. Debunked season one focused on providing education about reducing harm and stigma of substance use disorder, and evidence proving that harm reduction builds healthier communities, is more effective in reducing overdose deaths and infectious disease, and promotes a better understanding of opioid use disorder.
This month we are debunking the myth "once a junkie, always a junkie." This episode is a discussion between our host, Tim Light, and featured guests Maia Szalavitz, journalist and best-selling author of "Unbroken Brain: A Revolutionary New Way of Understanding Addiction," and Savannah Eley, Opioid Prevention Specialist for Southeastern Utah Health Department.
This episode is hosted by Tim Light, and our featured guests include Carlos Riveria, Co-Founder & CEO of Generation Red Road; Dr. Lisa Schainker, USU Extension Assistant Profession, Home and Community; Dr. Amy Khan, Executive Medical Director for Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah; and Julie Flood, Smart Recovery Group Facilitator. Join us for a discussion that affects households everywhere, and hear experts explain the negative impacts of adding stereotyping to an already unfortunate and stressful situation.In this episode, we debunk the myth and correct the damaging stereotype that "kids who use drugs have bad parents."
“Essential services” is one of the 2020 buzzwords that it is very unlikely any of us were thinking about before the global pandemic. But in March, as COVID cases began to spread throughout the U.S. and as business and organizations began to shut down, defining what had to stay open became crucial.
Episode 12 of DEBUNKED raises awareness of other substances that can cause use disorder and overdose, and Debunks the myth that “only people who use opioids are at risk of overdose." DEBUNKED host, Tim Light, welcomes Mindy Vincent, Executive Director of Utah Harm Reduction Coalition, Patrick Rezak, founder of One Voice Recovery and Dr. Brian Rogers, HIV Prevention Specialist from One Voice Recovery. Together, they DEBUNK the idea that heroin and prescription opioids are the only worries when talking about overdose, and that there are a number of other substances that should cause just as much concern. Listen in to learn more about stimulant overdose, contaminated substances, factors that may contribute to overdose and effective ways to reduce the harms surrounding substance use disorder.
There’s no doubt faiths, and the communities surrounding them, can be profound and powerful. Faith affects our value systems and our culture. Our faith may also influence how we see ourselves and someone else.
Episode 11 of DEBUNKED defines harm reduction efforts surrounding substance use disorder and debunks the myth that “harm reduction practices increase crime and drug use in my community." This episode is hosted by Tim Light, who is joined by Heather Bush, Utah Department of Health Syringe Exchange Program Coordinator and Michelle Chapoose, Tribal Liaison and Coordinator of the Tribal and Rural Opioid Initiative Resource Center in Roosevelt, Utah. Our guests discuss science-based harm reduction statistics, common fears about harm reduction, and how understanding the variety of substance use disorder treatment options can help reduce the stigma that plagues substance users and interferes with public safety.
J. Carlos Rivera is a tribal member of the Sherwood Band of Pomo Indians and also of Mexican descent. When it comes to healing, he follows the guidance of Wallace Black Elk, of the Lakota tribe.
In episode ten, we discuss another culturally-sensitive myth by debunking the idea that “all Native Americans do is drink, gamble, and take money from the government.” This episode is hosted by Tim Light and co-hosted by Michelle Chapoose, Tribal Liaison and Coordinator of the Tribal and Rural Opioid Initiative's Tribal Opioid Resource Center in Roosevelt, Utah.
Wash your hands with soap and water frequently throughout the day, keep a six-foot distance between yourself and others, use hand sanitizer when you’re on the go, mask-up when you’re outside your own house and, most importantly, stay home if you feel sick.
In episode nine, we are Debunking the myth “Not my kids.” Our host, Tim Light, welcomes co-host Dr. Stacey MacArthur, Utah State University Extension 4-H and Youth Programs; Tim Keady, USU Extension Assistant Professor of Health & Wellness and HEART Initiative team member; Charla Bocchicchio, author of My New Normal: A Mother's Story of the Opioid Epidemic; and Gabriel Glissmeyer, USU Masters degree student who has experienced life as the sibling of a substance user.
People with substance use disorders face enormous internal and external challenges on the journey to recovery. Harm reductions services aim to keep people safe while using drugs as well as helping them eventually reach recovery. Cultural and community background plays an important, but often overlooked, role in these services.
In episode eight, we are debunking the myth “Methadone or suboxone are no different than heroin.” Our host, Tim Light, welcomes co-host Savannah Eley, Opioid Prevention Specialist with Southeastern Utah Health Department; Dr. Lauren Prest of Moab Regional Hospital; Garth Mullins from the Crackdown podcast; and Dr. Erin Madden, Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences at Wayne State University. The group discusses the science of and the stigma associated with MAT options used to treat opioid use disorder.