Workshop: Overcoming and Addressing Stigma in Substance Use Disorders (OASIS): A Neuroscience-Based Educational Event for Communities and Clinicians-Overcoming and Addressing Stigma in Substance Use Disorders (OASIS): A Neuroscience-Based Educational Event for Communities and Clinicians

Overcoming and Addressing Stigma in Substance Use Disorders (OASIS): A Neuroscience-Based Educational Event for Communities and Clinicians

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Video Transcription

Video Summary

The session led by Dr. Jeremy Walloff and Dr. Ellen Edens focuses on an educational intervention designed to address stigma associated with opioid use disorder (OUD) by integrating neuroscience into broader community teaching. Initially, participants discussed strategies to respond empathetically to people dealing with OUD, emphasizing positive reinforcement, destigmatizing language, and acknowledging genetic and environmental factors. The session utilized a video metaphor of a "mental health jar" to illustrate how genetic and environmental factors contribute to mental health issues, followed by a neuroscience-heavy video explaining addiction not just as seeking reward but escaping distress. The presenters stressed the importance of delivering scientific concepts through effective storytelling, engaging narratives, and drawing analogies to make complex information accessible and memorable. They highlighted that reducing stigma often begins with personal reflection and internalized understanding of the condition. The educational curriculum provided aims to disseminate practical strategies for combating stigma related to OUD, accessible through the National Neuroscience Curriculum Initiative (NNCI) online platform, offering a range of resources for educators, clinicians, and the public. The session also underscored the importance of mixed groups in educational interventions to include diverse perspectives, hoping to replicate success through community-facing events. The presenters invited participants to explore these resources further and consider the broader application of neuroscience in public understanding and policy-making around addiction.

Keywords

benzodiazepines

withdrawal

dependence

tapering

pharmacology

tolerance

informed consent

treatment strategies

phenobarbital

microtaper

psychotherapy

patient outcome

substance dependencies

opioid use disorder

stigma reduction

neuroscience education

community teaching

empathy strategies

destigmatizing language

mental health jar

addiction neuroscience

effective storytelling

National Neuroscience Curriculum Initiative

educational intervention

public policy

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