Stigma is a major barrier to recovery, because people don’t want to be labeled as “junkies” and experience social exclusion when they ask for help. What can we do?

DEBUNKED: storytelling and healing on Tuesday's Access Utah

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.