The training we will be delivering to the community will aim to counteract common misperceptions by focusing on the science of addiction, that evidence-based treatment works, and people do recover.
Lauren E. Chambers, MPH, CPS, senior community health partnership coordinator for Population HealthDartmouth Health’s Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) has been selected as a pilot site for the nationwide Anti-Stigma Initiative, launched by the Addiction Policy Forum. This opportunity highlights DHMC’s dedication to improving its response to individuals with a substance use disorder, and actively combating the harmful stigma associated with addiction.
The Anti-Stigma Initiative includes over 100 pilot sites nationwide working to reduce addiction stigma, including stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination intent and increase knowledge about addiction.
As a pilot site, DHMC will be at the forefront of this groundbreaking initiative, actively contributing to testing and evaluation of new stigma interventions and new tools to measure levels of stigma in the community.
“We are excited to be part of this nationwide pilot for an intervention that aims to reduce stigma towards substance use disorder, and increase knowledge and skills to help someone experiencing addiction,” said Lauren E. Chambers, MPH, CPS, senior community health partnership coordinator for Population Health at Dartmouth Health. “Individuals with substance use disorder face great judgment and shame, and research shows that this can cause people to delay or avoid seeking treatment. The training we will be delivering to the community will aim to counteract common misperceptions by focusing on the science of addiction, that evidence-based treatment works, and people do recover.”
The Anti-Stigma Initiative reaffirms our commitment to providing a supportive and compassionate environment for individuals who are impacted by substance use disorders. By challenging stigmatizing beliefs, we aim to remove the barriers that often prevent individuals from seeking help and support on their journey to recovery.
To learn more about the Anti-Stigma Initiative, please visit https://bit.ly/46EisUj. A survey from the addiction policy forum may be taken here.
About Dartmouth Health
Dartmouth Health, New Hampshire's only academic health system and the state's largest private employer, serves patients across northern New England. Dartmouth Health provides access to more than 2,000 providers in almost every area of medicine, delivering care at its flagship hospital, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) in Lebanon, NH, as well as across its wide network of hospitals, clinics and care facilities. DHMC is consistently named the #1 hospital in New Hampshire by U.S. News & World Report, and recognized for high performance in numerous clinical specialties and procedures. Dartmouth Health includes Dartmouth Cancer Center, one of only 56 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the nation, and the only such center in northern New England; Dartmouth Health Children’s, which includes Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, the state’s only children’s hospital, and multiple clinic locations around the region; member hospitals in Lebanon, Keene and New London, NH, and Bennington and Windsor, VT; Visiting Nurse and Hospice for Vermont and New Hampshire; and more than 24 clinics that provide ambulatory services across New Hampshire and Vermont. Through its historical partnership with Dartmouth and the Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth Health trains nearly 400 medical residents and fellows annually, and performs cutting-edge research and clinical trials recognized across the globe with Geisel and the White River Junction VA Medical Center in White River Junction, VT. Dartmouth Health and its more than 13,000 employees are deeply committed to serving the healthcare needs of everyone in our communities, and to providing each of our patients with exceptional, personal care.