Working Through Workplace Stigma

“My first day returning to work after being treated for a severe opiate addiction was one of the most daunting moments of my life. Everyone in the office, from my manager to the administrative assistants, knew that forged prescriptions and criminal charges were the reason I had been let go from my previous job. My mind was spinning. What would my coworkers think of me? Who would want to work alongside an “addict”? Would they ever come to trust me? Did I even deserve to be here?” Click the title for the full article from the Harvard Health Blog on one physician’s experience with transitioning back to work after addiction treatment.

A Healthy Workplace is...

“There are many effective actions that organizations can take to promote mental health in the workplace [and] such actions may also benefit productivity.” Click the title for the full article "Mental health in the workplace" from the World Health Organization to find information on steps, interventions, and best practices that organizations can use to create a healthy workplace.

They Called Me Crack Baby, So Why am I in College?

“I don't know if I was born with drugs in my body or not. But my mom used drugs while she was pregnant with me. So it wasn't long before kids at school were calling me a 'crack baby.'"

Photo Quote

“We treat pregnant women even worse than we treat the general population with opioid use disorder. We should be offering them more compassion.”

Criminalizing Pregnancy: Policing Pregnant Women Who Use Drugs In The USA

“Across the USA, the heavy-handed policing of pregnant women’s behavior is shattering patient trust in health services with devastating consequences. These laws put pregnant women in a double bind, forcing them to choose between risking their health and risking punishment,” said Carrie Eisert, Policy Adviser at Amnesty International, who authored the report.”

Innovator Profile: Trama, Addiction, Mental Health And Recovery (TAMAR)

“TAMAR (Trauma, Addiction, Mental Health and Recovery) is a trauma-focused program for women that has been implemented in select Maryland detention centers.  The TAMAR program aims to provide appropriate services to trauma victims and break the cycle of substance abuse, arrest, and incarceration.”

Drug Facts: Sex and Gender Differences in Substance Use

​​​​​​​“It can be hard for any person with a substance use disorder to quit. But women in particular may be afraid to get help during or after pregnancy due to possible legal or social fears and lack of child care while in treatment. Women in treatment often need support for handling the burdens of work, home care, child care, and other family responsibilities.”

Tennessee Women Battling Addiction – Photo Essay

“Between 1980 and 2009, the arrest rate for drug possession or use tripled among women, while it doubled among men. Opioid abuse has exacerbated the problem, and rural areas in particular lack the resources and readily accessible treatment to help curb the problem.”