Empathy Lens Webinar: Humanizing Images & Education for Reducing Stigma (December 17, 9am PT)
12/02/2025
Research has shown that using stigmatizing language and imagery related to people who use drugs perpetuates harmful stereotypes and health barriers among this already vulnerable population. Finding realistic, high-quality images to support information dissemination work is a constant struggle, as many asset collections, including fee-based stock photo sites, largely contain dehumanizing and/or factually incorrect graphics on this topic.
ADAI’s Meg Brunner, MLIS, and Erinn McGraw, BFA, have been invited by SALIS, an international organization of substance use and addiction librarians, to present about this issue in the second installment of their new SALIS Speaker Series.
In this session (December 17, 2025, 9-10am PT), Meg and Erinn will share:
- research about the impact of harmful images and language on stigma and related health barriers for people who use drugs and
- provide guidance on where to find and how to select accurate, non-stigmatizing information and images to use in your work.
- introduce you to their new resource, Empathy Lens, which features hundreds of free, accurate, compassionate, and non-stigmatizing images intended for health and service organizations to use in outreach and educational efforts.
Register for the SALIS Empathy Lens webinar here!
This session is co-sponsored by the UW Addictions, Drug & Alcohol Institute and SALIS (Substance Abuse Librarians & Information Specialists)
