Addiction and Recovery Summer Series: Fighting the stigma of addiction through connection and education

By Leah Persky, PhD & CFLE • Manager of Addiction & Recovery Services and Professional and Community Education

With fall around the corner and the transition to school and back to routines, we invite you to attend the final two sessions of our Addiction and Recovery Series. Now is a perfect time to complete NARCAN training so you can be prepared to save a life from opioid overdose. Being prepared with NARCAN is one of the easiest and most impactful actions you can take in the fight against opioid addiction. We have made great progress against the opioid epidemic, and we must keep going; especially in the face to many cuts to addiction and recovery programming.

While there have been decreases in opioid overdose deaths in Minnesota over the past several years, many lifesaving support services are currently in jeopardy with the recent federal funding cuts. For more information on trends and data on opioid use in Minnesota, check out the following: https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/opioids/opioid-dashboard/index.html

The September training is where you will learn about what drugs are most commonly used today, what they look like, their impacts, and what signs to look out for in others. It can be difficult to know what to look for if you have a teen in the house or a loved one you may be concerned about using substances; this is a great place to start. This session will empower you with current information and knowledge to support you and your family’s well-being.

Education breaks down the stigma associated with addiction. By learning with our experts, you will explore current trends, evidence-based research and learn how to support yourself and loved ones impacted by the disease. Education reduces the barriers to treatment and healing from substance use disorder and behavioral disorders.

There are many barriers to receiving treatment. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) conducts yearly surveys and in 2023, it found that an estimated 85.4 percent of people suffering from Substance Use Disorder did not receive treatment. This is in large part due to stigma and misunderstanding creating many barriers to care. Whether you are directly impacted by addiction, have a loved one you are trying to support, or are simply trying to learn more about this disease; we encourage you to attend one of both of these sessions.

The cornerstones of the Addiction and Recovery Services at JFCS are education, collaboration and harm reduction. Addiction is a brain disease – it is still poorly understood by society, and it is often stigmatized. We are working to improve access to accurate information, create a safe space for discussion, break down barriers to care, and provide support to the whole family. Coming together as a community to learn more about addiction is an excellent step to take, whether you are a professional in the field, supporting your family, or just starting to learn about this disease.

Most Americans are touched by addiction in some way: the 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) found that 16.8% of people in the U.S. aged 12 or older, or approximately 48.4 million individuals, had a substance use disorder (SUD) in the past year. Addiction is a family disease and millions of families across the U.S. are impacted. We want you to know that you are not alone. We are here to provide consultations, referrals, family coaching, professional support, community connection and education.

Together we can fight stigma, lead with empathy, and support loved ones and community. Connection is the opposite of addiction; come for connection and learning. Together we can make a positive impact on the world around us. Please reach out with any questions and to learn more and register for the events, click here: https://jfcsmpls.org/event/addiction-and-recovery-summer-series-3/ We do not want cost to be a barrier to attendance; there are low and no-cost options available for all sessions.

Here are more details on the upcoming trainings:

Opioid Overdose Response Training on Aug. 27 – Learn how to identify and respond to an opioid overdose and walk away feeling confident in your ability to carry Naloxone and save a life. Open to adults and teens. Presenter: Jennifer Fukuda, JFCS, from 6-7:30 p.m.

Raising Awareness, Reducing Harm: Understanding Today’s Drug Trends on Sept. 10– Explore emerging drug trends, learn ways to identify commonly used drugs and their impact, and discuss what your kids are being exposed to at school and online. It will also include Q&A, so come with your questions ready. Presenter: Justin McNeal of Begin Anew Recovery, from 6-7:30 p.m.

Contact Leah with questions at: lpersky@jfcsmpls.org

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