Learn How to Reduce Stigma in 2 Upcoming Webinars about the Empathy Lens Project (May 22 & May 29)

Join ADAI’s Information Team, librarian Meg Brunner, MLIS, and public information specialist Erinn McGraw, BFA, for one of our upcoming webinars on the Empathy Lens Collection! (Both sessions will be the same, so choose the date that works for you!)

Research shows that stigma against people who use drugs can cause serious harm, like being rejected by others, losing a job or child custody, or even going to jail. It can also make it harder for people to get health care or other kinds of support because they fear being judged.

Most research on stigma has focused on the use of stigmatizing language, but stigmatizing images can also spread harmful ideas about people who use drugs. It can be difficult to find realistic and non-stigmatizing images, though, particularly in commercial stock photo sites.

The Empathy Lens Collection was created to address this challenge with a free online collection of real-world, positive, and respectful images that can be used in substance use-related education, media, and outreach.

Join us for two upcoming webinars (they’re both the same, so pick the one that works for you!) about stigma in media/images and the Empathy Lens project to learn:

• How stigma impacts people who use drugs
• How language and images can perpetuate stigma
• Where to find — and how to select — non-stigmatizing images for use in your work