Title: The Impact of Stigmatization on Substance Use Treatment (part 1)

This is a two-part webinar, sponsored by RIZE and the Harm Reduction Coalition. To register for the second part (Thursday, May 19th 12-1:30pm) click here

Webinar speakers will also hold office hours on Thursday, May 12 (12-1pm) for questions following this webinar. All registrants will receive a Zoom link to attend the office hours. 

Description: This online training will provide participants with an introduction to the principles of harm reduction both as a philosophy and a practical approach to our work, focusing particularly on its role in helping understand the impact and consequences of drug related stigma. Recognizing that not everyone is ready or able to stop risky behavior, harm reduction focuses on promoting ways to reduce the health risks associated with drug use and other high risk behaviors 

This training will assist providers working in diverse settings in defining stigma by identifying the barriers it presents to developing meaningful relationships with clients in order to more effectively engage them in a range of interventions to reduce the risk of harm while exploring conceptual and practical tools to challenge stigma and support drug users’ needs. 

Learning objectives: By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to: 

• Explore the definition of stigma and stigma conceptually/in practice

• Identify three ways in which people that use drugs experience stigma and discrimination. 

• Identify two consequences of drug-related stigma and discrimination when accessing services. 

• Define three key principles of harm reduction. 

Speakers: 

Tanagra M. Melgarejo was born and raised in Puerto Rico and is the proud daughter of Mexican  and Cuban immigrants. She has over 20 years of experience in the fields of organizational and  program development, evaluation, technical assistance, community organizing, and direct service  with underserved/over-surveilled/stigmatized folks, particularly within Latinx communities. She  currently works as the National Learning and Engagement Strategist for the National Harm Reduction Coalition.

Her commitment and passion for harm reduction started out in Holyoke, Massachusetts in the  1990’s while she worked as Popular Education Director for a local HIV prevention program. Before  moving to Oakland, she was working in Puerto Rico with women who are survivors of gender  based violence, focusing her work and activism around economic/human rights of women. She holds an MSW from the University of Puerto Rico and was a lecturer for social work students at  the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras campus and the University of Turabo.  Finally, Tanagra identifies as an intersectional feminist who believes in decolonization as the way towards liberation. 

Joe Pereira, LICSW, CAS is a licensed clinical social worker and addictions specialist who has been practicing for over 30 years.  Joe was a co-founder of Outlook Associates of New England, a practice started to assist persons with anger control problems. He is currently in private practice in Arlington, MA offering individual and group therapy as well as training and consultation with a focus on anger management to adults and adolescents.  Joe has given numerous trainings locally as well as nationally and internationally on the treatment of anger management problems as well as workplace conflict, chemical addictions and stress management.  He was interviewed by The Wall Street Journal on the topic of working with people with anger control issues and has made an appearance on the Boston local news show “Chronicle” discussing”the topic of road rage.  He also was involved with the Massachusetts Medical Society on developing a program for disruptive physicians. Joe has been a lecturer at the Boston University Graduate School of Social Work since 2013.

This event is approved for 1.5 CEUs

This free webinar will be hosted with our Symposium 2022 event. 

Click here to learn more about Symposium.