Clinicians Advocating for Methadone Reform: Community Engagement and Empowerment

Saturday, April 6, 2024

4:00 PM – 5:15 PM

Presenter(s)

Rachel Elizabeth Simon, MD

Assistant Professor of Medicine
NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York
Zoe Weinstein, MD,MS

Assistant Professor
Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Michigan

Slides
Aaron Ferguson, BSW

Methadone Liaison
National Survivors Union (NSU), Texas
Nick Voyles, Harm Reduction

Executive Director
National Survivors Union, Indiana
Kimberly L. Sue, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor of Medicine
Yale School of Medicine, Connecticut
Paul J. Joudrey, MD, MPH

Assistant Professor
University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Non-presenting author(s)

Caty Simon

Leadership Team Member/Narrative Development Director/Development Director
National Survivors Union/NC Survivors Union/Whose Corner Is It Anyway, Massachusetts
Kathryn F. Eggert, PhD, LCSW

Director
APT Foundation, Connecticut
Jordan Scott, Certified Recovery Specialist

Digital Advocacy and Organizing Coordinator
Pennsylvania Harm Reduction Network, North Carolina

People who use drugs are marginalized and their experiences and preferences are often overlooked. The focus session will show how a group of clinicians across the U.S. worked towards improving methadone treatment by partnering with directly-impacted individuals, researchers, and policy groups. Our coalition used collective action, through national convenings and working groups, to advocate for policy and practice reforms.

Learning Objectives:

Learners will be able to:

Upon completion, participants will be able to explain how clinicians can partner with directly impacted people to build trust.
Upon completion, participants will be able to explain how clinicians can call for Systemic Improvements through a National Conference.
Upon completion, participants will be able to explain how clinicians can leverage new relationships to generate actionable policy and practice recommendations.