Foundational Fridays – Dismantling Drug Related Stigma
This 2 -hour webinar is a part of our Foundational Fridays Series taking place every last Friday of the month from 12pm – 2pm EST, from July 2025 – June 2026.
This webinar will examine the intersection of social inequalities, substance use, and stigma, with a focus on the barriers that individuals who use drugs face in accessing essential services. Participants will explore the lived experiences of both current and former substance users, gaining insight into how stigma can profoundly impact multiple aspects of their lives—including relationships with family, friends, employers, and healthcare providers.
Through a harm reduction lens, we will explore how internalized stigma can exacerbate harmful behaviors and hinder recovery, and we will discuss strategies for fostering empathy and reducing stigma in client interactions. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the role of service providers in perpetuating or mitigating stigma and how this awareness can lead to more inclusive and supportive engagement practices.
By critically reflecting on their own potential contributions to stigma, participants will gain practical tools to enhance their ability to connect with clients authentically and effectively, ultimately promoting better outcomes for individuals who use drugs. This session will offer concrete strategies for building trusting, non-judgmental relationships that support long-term health and well-being within a harm reduction framework.
Trainers: Tanagra Malgarejo (She/Ella), National Director of Capacity Building and Engagement
Prerequisite: None, but viewing our Foundations of Harm Reduction is highly recommended
Audience: All health and human service providers, including Peers Workers
