The Addictive Podcast

In this episode Raymond interviews the founder and director of Challenges Inc SC, Marc Burrows. We cover the history of Challenges Inc, the reasons for starting the first syringe service program in South Carolina and learn about parts of the journey since then.  Special thanks to Counter Narrative Project for their support to lift up this work.  https://thecounternarrative.org/ To learn more about harm reduction in South Carolina and to support Challenges Inc, visit:  www.challengesinc.org  https://www.facebook.com/ChallengesIncorporated/# https://www.instagram.com/challenges_inc Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-needle-and-the-narrative--1518412/support.

Episode 4 of the four part series funded by the Counter Narrative Project. Carrying the story forward; lived experience, leadership, and harm reduction. Come along as we discuss idenity, substance use, HIV, sex work, housing, and fighting healthcare stigma.  Raymond Velazquez-Turner is a public health leader and harm reduction advocate working with the Western North Carolina AIDS Project and Challenges Inc SC. Raymond's work centers on outreach, HIV testing, overdose prevention, and client centered harm reduction strategies that address HIV transmission, stigma, and structural barriers faced by underserved communities.  This series was supported by the Counter Narrative Project out of Atlanta, Georgia. Learn more about CNP by visiting https://thecounternarrative.org/ This podcast is hosted by Challenges Inc SC, a syringe services program in South Carolina. Visit https://challengesinc.org/ to learn more about our work.  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-needle-and-the-narrative--1518412/support.

The Needle and the Narrative, episode 3 of the new series with support from the Counter Narrative Project. We'll be digging into how substance use, HIV risk, and LGBTQ+ identity intersect, along with the barriers folks face in accessing affirming care and harm reduction services.  Nathaniel Bush is the author of two books; one of original poetry that addresses themes of sex, love, spirituality, addiction, friendship, harm reduction, and politics, and another that caught the attention of The Advocate Magazine, where he was featured following the tragic Pulse Nightclub Shooting in Orlando, FL.  We'd like to thank The Counter Narrative Project for their support with making this podcast series. To learn more about CNP visit: https://thecounternarrative.org/ To learn more about Challenges Inc SC and the harm reduction work happening in South Carolina, visit: https://challengesinc.org/ Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-needle-and-the-narrative--1518412/support.

The Needle and the Narrative; Episode 2 – “Not a Statistic: BIPOC Health & Harm Reduction” We examine how systemic racism and health disparities heighten HIV risk for BIPOC communities, and uplift culturally responsive approaches and grassroots health interventions. Thank you to the Counter Narrative Project for making this series possible. Margaret Denise Bordeaux (she/her/hers) Margaret has studied sociology, psychology, public health, prevention science, community health, justice-involved care, and healthcare administration. Margaret’s career and academic interests and areas of focus include community-based approaches to health and wellness, implementation science, and building healthcare service capacity for all. Professionally, Margaret has provided direct care services, clinical research coordination, staff supervision, program coordination, curriculum development, protocol and manual design, and workshop/meeting facilitation at the local, statewide, and national levels. In her work, Margaret, an empowered thinker and speaker, consistently demonstrates a willingness to critically explore current practices, thoughtfully collaborate, and develop promising strategies. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-needle-and-the-narrative--1518412/support.

Michael Harney from Western North Carolina AIDS Project (WNCAP). Intersecting Stories: HIV, Drug User Health, and Vulnerable Communities.This four-part series aims to amplify the voices of communities impacted by HIV, while exploring the role of harm reduction in addressing health disparities. Each episode focuses on a different vulnerable population, combining lived experience, expert perspective, and a discussion of the systems and policies that shape health outcomes. Episode 1: Rural Communities & HIV, which highlights the specific challenges faced by people who use drugs in rural settings—such as limited access to care, stigma, and criminalization. Shout out to the Counter Narrative Project for making this series possible.  https://thecounternarrative.org/ For more information on harm reduction in South Carolina, visit www.challengesinc.org Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-needle-and-the-narrative--1518412/support.

Zach Rhoads joins the Challenging Pathos podcast to discuss all things "out of the box", when it comes to treating addiction. Why do we do the things we do? Why don't we follow the evidence? and What's the cost? Zach and Stanton Peele co authored the book "Outgrowing Addiction, With Common Sense Instead of Disease Therapy" which disputes the disease concept of addiction and more. You can purchase the book at https://www.peele.net/bookstore/outgrowing.html Learn about South Carolina harm reduction at www.challengesinc.org

In this episode, we speak with Haven Wheelock from Portland, OR on the historic passing of "Measure 110" that decriminalizes personal drug possession in the state of Oregon. www.outsidein.org/health-services/needle-exchange/ www.challengesinc.org

Garth Mullins, host of the astounding "Crackdown" podcast shares his perspective on drug user issues from his home in downtown Vancouver's Eastside. We discuss the recent drug policy changes with Mississippi's medical cannabis bill and decriminalization in Oregon. Garth shares his experience with how illegal syringe exchange helped keep him safe in younger years. Learn more about Garth at https://crackdownpod.com/. To help harm reduction in South Carolina stay alive, please visit www.challengesinc.org

On this episode we discuss different types of advocacy and intra agency growth. Greg Huckins is a peer-support specialist working for a recovery community organization as a member of the SBIRT team in the local hospital emergency department. His role is to help guide individuals through the beginning stages of recovery. JoAnna Vance is a person in long-term recovery from substance use disorder and is the region lead for the Recovery Advocacy Project in West Virginia. https://www.recoveryvoices.com/ https://challengesinc.org/

Chase Holleman, LMSW, is a person in recovery from substance use disorder who advocates for medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and works as Program Director for the syringe services program at UNC Greensboro in North Carolina. Chase is well known for his recent TedTalk, where he describes his experience in the war on drugs. https://youtu.be/UYtucOa_aJs This podcast is powered by Challenges Inc, syringe services program in South Carolina. Learn more about harm reduction in the south at www.challengesinc.org

Alex Elswick, PhD joins the show to discuss stigma, shame, and using recreational substances in recovery from substance use disorder. Alex holds a Master’s Degree in Family Science from the University of Kentucky and is a person in long term recovery. He is a cofounder of Voices of Hope. https://www.voicesofhopelex.org/ www.challengesinc.org

Casey Dillon is an experienced digital communicator, specializing in leveraging real-time trends and long-term strategy to develop successful advocacy and communications campaigns. She also serves as the Program Director for Advocates for Opioid Recovery, where she manages communications, media relations and grassroots advocacy efforts to break down barriers to evidence-based addiction treatment. References: https://curastrategies.com/ https://www.opioidrecovery.org/ https://www.mentalhealthforus.net/ www.challengesinc.org www.apphemp.com use PROMO CODE "TAP15"

Mike Todd joins TAP today to discuss the latest advocacy efforts happening in South Carolina. Mike has worked hard to bring legitimacy to recovery housing and is an active voice for the Recovery Advocacy Project in SC. You can follow Mike at www.freedomrecoverycenterofgreenville.org and www.recoveryvoices.com. This episode also celebrates 200 overdose reversals for Challenges Inc, a South Carolina syringe services program. Learn more at www.challengesinc.org

MAT advocate and harm reductionist, Riley Koyote from Athens G.A. joins The Addictive Podcast to discuss the latest progress surrounding these topics in Georgia. Riley also runs https://athensqueercollective.org/ and works at https://www.accesspointga.org, providing syringe access to Athens. Vist www.apphemp.com for hemp and CBD products you can trust. Learn more about harm reduction in the south at www.challengesinc.org

Founder of End It For Good, Christina Dent joins us to discuss the challenge of implementing harm reduction strategies in conservative places. She is well known for her TedX Talk in Jackson, Mississippi and other appearances in the drug policy reform movement. Learn more about her work at www.enditforgood.com. Support this podcast and harm reduction in South Carolina at www.challengesinc.org

Executive Director of RecoveryATX, Jenna Sheldon joins the podcast to discuss the importance of recovery oriented language and how stigma exists even within our own recovery communities. Visit www.recoveryatx.org to learn more about Jenna's work. Visit www.challengesinc.org to see what's happening with harm reduction in South Carolina.

Former White House staffer and national recovery advocate, Ryan Hampton talks about federal and state funding for recovery support services, the need for syringe services, and the future of decriminalization. Join Ryan in the fight and learn how you can make a difference at www.mobilizerecovery.org. Visit www.challengesinc.org to support SC syringe services.

Mike Malone is the Program Manager at FAVOR Greenville, a recovery community organization in Upstate, S.C. We discuss common challenges in the addiction recovery space including HIPAA, peer-support boundaries, and stigma/shame inducing habits of the treatment industry. Learn more about Mike's work at www.favorgreenville.org. Learn about syringe services and harm reduction at www.challengesinc.org. Vist www.apphemp.com for high quality hemp and CBD products, grown in the Appalachian Mountains. Use promo code "TAP15" for 15% off.

David Johnson is a criminal justice organizer with Grassroots Leadership in Austin, TX. We discuss racial inequality during the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd and the global Covid19 pandemic. Email David at djohnson@grassrootsleadership.org and visit http://grassrootsleadership.org/. Thanks to Jenna Neasbitt @RecoveryATX. Thanks to our sponsor www.apphemp.com, promo code "TAP15". Learn more about syringe exchange in South Carolina at www.challengesinc.org .

Steven Slate is co author of "The Freedom Model for Addictions: Escape the Treatment and Recovery Trap" and researcher at the Baldwin Research Institute (BRI). We discuss The Freedom Model concept for treating addiction which opposes philosophies like twelve-step meetings and the disease model. The show sponsor is www.apphemp.com. Use promo code TAP15 to support South Carolina's first syringe exchange, Challenges Inc. Learn more at www.challengesinc.org , www.thecleanslate.org , www.thefreedommodel.org