If you have ever been by the Southern Ute Behavioral Health booth at the many events we attend (from the skate park to casino to MPF), you may have seen one of our swag buttons, “Know Science. No Stigma.”  

This little button says so much and summarizes an extremely important issue that we are dedicating the month of August to writing about: reducing stigma around substance use, particularly overdose deaths.  

In order to help people turn their lives around, heal and recover, we first have to keep them alive.  

This is part of the science; knowing what works to help struggling friends and family members get through one day at a time. But “knowing science” is not just the science of immediate treatment. Nor is science just helpful for prevention such as those factors that we know to help, such as belonging, being needed, and an ability to express and release pain and suffering.  

Part of knowing the science behind substance use and overdose is knowing that intergenerational trauma – such as the trauma experienced by Native American communities whose relatives have gone through boarding schools and still continue to suffer at the hands of the U.S. Government – is also a known, root cause of why individuals turn to substances either to help them cope, to help them function, or to get through excruciating pain and loss.  

So, in saying, “Know Science. No Stigma” this means that it is important to continue educating on the substance use epidemic in the U.S. and how Native American communities have suffered at much higher rates than other ethnic groups. 

When we hold stigma against friends, family members or community members for struggling with substance use, we’re not really seeing the problem at its core. More and more openness to talking openly about mental health and paving the way for more understanding has shown us that trauma, abuse, pain and loss are foundational in why people turn to substances.  

But let’s think about it for a moment. What are the emotions and thoughts behind stigma? What is it that causes us to stigmatize others, whether it’s someone using substances or someone whose family member died by suicide?  

Stigma is a phenomenon made up of fear, judgment, and sometimes anger. It is a way that we hold certain people away from us and see them as less than us. It is a way of implying that there is something wrong or unforgivable about a person. It implies that they are at fault or are getting what they deserve.  

The more we know about the science behind substance use and overdose, the more we can see that adverse, painful, and abusive experiences people endure, through no fault of their own, often cause these suffering people to need to soothe, calm, or numb themselves in order to just survive daily life.  

Stigma can also be slowly eroded away by getting to know those who are struggling or who have recovered from substance use. Listening with the heart helps us here.  

Stay tuned for more on this topic in upcoming Drum issues. Aug. 31 is international Overdose Awareness Day and is recognized around the globe. It’s the number one campaign to educate on, prevent overdose, and reduce stigma so that we can help people 1) stay alive so that they can, 2) recover, heal, and take their needed place in the human community. Everyone matters.  

 

Seven things you can do to reduce stigma: 

 

1. Know the facts. Educate yourself about mental illness including substance use disorders. 

1. Be aware of your attitudes and behavior.  

1. Choose your words carefully. 

1. Educate others.  

1. Focus on the positive. 

1. Support people.  

1. Include everyone. 

 

Here’s to your good health! 

 

It’s okay not to feel okay.  

 

If you or someone you know has been struggling with their emotions, behaviors, or substance use please reach out to us. We can help you find appropriate tools and services that could help you overcome obstacles in your life. We are here for you. Please contact the Southern Ute Behavioral Health Division at 970-563-5700 for more information or to set up an appointment to see a counselor or therapist.  

Reminder: If you need to talk to someone, please reach out. 

  And for those interested in opioid use education, harm reduction, and support, please contact us for quick Naloxone (Narcan) training and fentanyl test strips. We can schedule individual, family, or friends training times at our Southern Ute Behavioral Health Building, or we can come to you, and the training is around 30 minutes. Please call us at 970-563-5700 to set up a training appointment.