Stigma Reduction and Harm Reduction

HEART is partnering with health departments, research experts, community coalitions, and other key stakeholders to coordinate on-the-ground efforts that evidence based information, community-based solutions, and multi-sector partnerships. In the realm of Stigma Reduction and Harm Reduction, HEART is working on the following:

Ogden Civic Action Network Partnership:

HEART faculty are partnering with the Ogden Civic Action Network (OgdenCAN) to increase naloxone awareness and provide information and resources to the East Central Neighborhood through the production of information cards and toolkits.

Informing the National Narrative: Stories of Utah's Opioid Crisis

HEART faculty are partnering with their communities to collect, preserve, and share the stories of Utah residents affected by the opioid epidemic. These stories will be made digitally accessible to the general population, service/resource providers, and the academic community. Additionally, the team will be facilitating community discussions about stigma in the 9 HEART counties to affirm attitudes of recovery, empower self-determination, reduce stigma, and promote healing and health.

Decreasing Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Stigma

HEART faculty in collaboration with faculty from the USU Department of Psychology received grant funding from the Utah Department of Health. The team will partner with the Carbon & Emery Opioid & Substance Use Coalition and the Ogden Civic Action Network (Ogden CAN) to target Utah’s opioid crisis “hot spots” – Carbon, Emery, and Weber counties – with community outreach programs to reduce Opioid Use Disorder stigma and promote evidence-based treatment.