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 largest private employer, serves patients across New England. Dartmouth Health provides access to more than 2,300 providers in nearly every area of medicine, delivering care at its flagship hospital, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) in Lebanon, NH. Its network of hospitals, outpatient centers, clinics and home care facilities, spans a broad geographical area. Year after year, DHMC is named the #1 hospital in New Hampshire by U.S. News & World Report, and is consistently recognized for high performance in numerous clinical specialties and procedures. Dartmouth Health includes Dartmouth Cancer Center, northern New England’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers and one of less than than 60 total nationally; Dartmouth Health Children’s, which includes the state’s only children’s hospital (Children’s Hospital at DHMC/CHaD) and more than 20 locations around the region; eight member hospitals in Lebanon, Keene, Claremont, Hampstead, and New London, NH, and Windsor and Bennington, VT; Dartmouth Health Home Care; Dartmouth Health Connected Care Center for Telehealth, serving patients as far away as Texas; and more than 30 primary and multi-specialty clinics across New Hampshire and Vermont. Through its partnership with Dartmouth College, Dartmouth’s Geisel School of Medicine and the White River Junction VA Medical Center, Dartmouth Health trains nearly 400 medical residents and fellows annually and performs cutting-edge research and clinical trials with international impact. Dartmouth Health and its more than 16,000 employees are committed to serving the healthcare needs of everyone in the communities it serves and to providing every patient with exceptional, state-of-the-art, personalized care. Learn more at dartmouth-health.org.