We are back! We have a discussion with Denise Holden, founder and CEO of the Raises Project, a recovery community organization that has since expanded outside of Pennsylvania and Dr. Sarah Kawasaki, the Chief of Addiction Medicine, and Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Internal Medicine at Penn State Health.

This episode discusses the opioid crisis, the negative stigma surrounding this, and the process of recovery.

Summary:

The substance use epidemic in the United States remains a significant public health concern. The rate of drug overdose deaths has increased substantially over the past decade. This risk is particularly heightened when individuals with a substance use disorder (SUD) encounter a transition in their lives, such as being released from a correctional facility. Within two weeks of release, the risk of overdose is between 8-40 times higher than standard risk. People with SUD are also overrepresented in the criminal justice system and often experience barriers to services. Effectively treating and preventing SUD among this population can help reduce recidivism, SUD and overdose rates, and lead to other positive outcomes for individuals, families, and communities (e.g., crime reduction, mental health, economic mobility). The consequences of inaction are far-reaching, which motivates this panel to discuss policy options with bipartisan appeal. Researchers will discuss innovative strategies to address SUD among justice-involved individuals – during and after release from incarceration. Additionally, the researchers can share insights on innovative approaches, opportunities to involve families in recovery, and ways to remove barriers to services.

Panelists:

• Erin S. Corbett, EdD; CEO, Second Chance Educational Alliance, Inc. (Moderator)
• Melissa Svigelj, PhD; Assistant Professor, Justice Studies, James Madison University
• Noel Vest, PhD; Assistant Professor, Boston University School of Public Health
• Christy Visher, PhD; Professor, Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice, University of Delaware

Key Points in Discussion:

• RTP Introduction 00:02
• Moderator Introduction 03:32
• Panelist Introductions 04:50
• Discussion 08:00
• Concluding Remarks 47:33

We’re back! The Evidence-to-Impact Podcast is back with a new episode where we discuss The Adolescent Health Network (AHN) from Penn State PRO Wellness. This episode features a conversation with Dr. Deepa Sekhar, executive director of Penn State PRO Wellness, Victoria Smith, career coordinator at Hershey High School in the Derry Township School District, and two amazing 12th-grade students and past program participants, Sarah Anderson, and Mena Morsy.

The AHN is a program that connects health researchers with teens to get their feedback on research ideas, helps researchers design studies that are more relevant to adolescents, and gives students valuable experiential knowledge of health careers and research in general. This program is a great way to ensure your research is relevant to teens and their health needs. In addition to providing feedback on research ideas, teens can also help with study design, recruitment, and dissemination strategies.