Labels Dehumanize and Lead to Harm

Labels Dehumanize and Lead to Harm

We need to see people as people first, patients second. Dr. Jefferson Parker explains his journey as a clinical psychologist working with people with substance use disorders. All too often, people with a substance use disorder (SUD) get reduced to a “label.”...
Stigma and Shame are Interconnected

Stigma and Shame are Interconnected

Shame contributes to low self-esteem, social isolation, and reluctance to seek help. Brynn Knox is a Certified Peer Support Specialist who talks about her recovery and a setback. I’ll always remember it … I wish he hadn’t said that. -Brynn, Peer...
Recovery Requires Support and Empathy

Recovery Requires Support and Empathy

When I left residential treatment for my substance use disorder (SUD) and entered back into “the real world,” I needed someone to walk beside me for a while. It was important for me to have another person to lean on. Someone to be honest with about what I was...