DEBUNKED

Mindy Vincent started Utah’s first syringe exchange program in 2016. 

That was right after the state legalized it. 

“People were appalled,” said Vincent, founder of the non-profit Utah Harm Reduction Coalition. “People were like, ‘oh my gosh, you’re gonna do what? You’re gonna enable drug use. What kind of craziness is this?’” 

In episode seven, we are debunking the myth "The only legitimate treatment for addiction is abstinence."

In episode six, we are debunking the myth “Native Americans have a predisposition to addiction.”

In episode five, we are debunking the myth “Addiction can be cured if you have enough willpower.”

Our host, Tim Light, welcomes guests Michelle Chapoose, the Tribal and Rural Opioid Initiative Tribal Liaison Coordinator from the Tribal Opioid Resource Center in Roosevelt, Utah, Dr. Patrick Green, from Bonneville Family Practice in Tooele, Utah, and Adam Baxter from the Tooele County Chapter of Young People in Recovery, to discuss the science of addiction, barriers and opportunities along the journey of recovery.

This episode is a special follow-up to the March 19, coronavirus special. In this episode we focus on debunking the myth, "Only elderly and immunocompromised individuals are at risk of adverse outcomes from COVID-19." 

It features guests Michelle Chapoose, TRIO Tribal Liasion Coordinator from the Tribal Opioid Resource Center in Roosevelt, Utah; Dr. Nathan Allen, ER Physician in Montana; and Paul Harkin, Director of Harm Reduction at Health Right 360 in San Francisco.

On this special coronavirus-themed episode of 'Debunked' our hosts will be looking at myths related to COVID-19.

Our second episode focuses on debunking the myth that "good people like me don't become addicted to drugs." It features guest Michelle Chapoose who is a member of the Tribal and Rural Opoid Innative and the tribal liaison coordinator from the Tribal Opioid Resource Center in Roosevelt, Utah; Dr. Christina A. Porucznik, an associate professor and associate division chief for education in the division of public health; and Jay Hymas of Clear Recovery Cache Valley.   

This first episode introduces the Tribal and Rural Opioid Initiative, and the state of the opioid crisis in Utah. It features guest Heather Bush from Utah Department of Health, a Syringe Exchange Program Coordinator and Dr. Erin Fanning Madden, assistant professor in the Division of Epidemiology and biostatistics at University of New Mexico Health Science Center.   We review information about how the crisis began, and set the stage for debunking a myth in each of our episodes moving forward.

The Tribal and Rural Opioid Initiative, housed in the Office of Health Equity and Community Engagement, is launching a new podcast. The 12 episode “Debunked” podcast premiers February 12, 2020 and will address opioid use myths.