Stop Judging; Start Healing Stigma Summit
2024 Summit Details
January 17 – Huntsville– Jackson Center
January 18 – Prattville – Capitol Hill Marriott
January 22 – Tuscaloosa – Bryant Conference Center
January 23 – Birmingham – Hyatt Regency – The Wynfrey
January 24 – Mobile – Riverview Renaissance
January 29 – Opelika – Grand National Marriott
January 30 – Dothan – Wiregrass Safety Training Center
8:45 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (6 hours of instruction available)
Stigma is defined as a set of negative beliefs that a group or society holds about a topic or group of people. The World Health Organization has classified stigma as having a detrimental effect on the treatment of individuals and is a huge barrier to recovery. Public attitudes about various stigmatizing conditions indicate that individuals with a substance use disorder are viewed more negatively than individuals with a mental health disorder. This stigma promotes the vicious cycle that is embedded in the disease of substance use disorder. In the state of Alabama, stigma presents as a barrier to seeking treatment and directly affects the way an individual views themselves. The goal of this summit is to address stigma, as it relates to individuals with a substance use disorder, by dispelling myths, educating on evidence-based practices, and bringing awareness to this public health issue.
Physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, registered nurses, pharmacists, social workers, counselors, first responders, law enforcement, criminal justice, and any professional who is interested in developing compassion and an understanding of stigma around substance use disorders.