This episode is hosted by Tim Light, and our featured guests include Carlos Riveria, Co-Founder & CEO of Generation Red Road; Dr. Lisa Schainker, USU Extension Assistant Profession, Home and Community; Dr. Amy Khan, Executive Medical Director for Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah; and Julie Flood, Smart Recovery Group Facilitator. Join us for a discussion that affects households everywhere, and hear experts explain the negative impacts of adding stereotyping to an already unfortunate and stressful situation.In this episode, we debunk the myth and correct the damaging stereotype that "kids who use drugs have bad parents."

DEBUNKED Episode 14: Myth 'Once a Junkie, Always A Junkie'

DEBUNKED is the only Utah podcast combining evidence-based health practices with storytelling to dispel harmful myths and stereotypes about people who use drugs, persons in recovery, and evidenced-based harm reduction efforts. Our mission is to foster understanding and reduce stigma. Every episode features the voices of people directly affected, researchers and medical professionals, and community partners. Our aim is to nurture an open dialogue around what has been a taboo topic in Utah for far too long. DEBUNKED is a project of the Tribal and Rural Opioid Initiative, housed in the Office of Health Equity and Community Engagement of the Utah State University College of Education and Human Services, Department of Kinesiology and Health Science, in partnership with USU Extension. The Tribal and Rural Opioid Initiative (TROI), promotes evidence-based best practices across the state of Utah in an attempt to reduce the burden of the opioid crisis in our home state, particularly in our tribal and rural communities. Our 12-person editorial board is made up of local individuals from tribal communities, harm reduction organizations, substance use treatment programs, Extension professionals, and public health experts.  Utah Public Radio produces the podcast, with support from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Rural Opioid Technical Assistance program.