Spotlight on media representation and substance use stigma

UNSW Centre for Social Research in Health

Hear from an international expert and guest from the drug user movement discuss the impacts of media representation on public stigma.

In this Spotlight on Stigma seminar, we hear from international expert Professor Harry Sumnall about the impacts of media representation on public stigma related to substance use. We also hear from Leah McLeod from the drug user movement with extensive experience in media communications related to substance use, including telling her own story to the media. <h3>Speakers:</h3><a href="https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/about-us/staff-profiles/faculty-of-health/public-health-institute/harry-sumnall" title="https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/about-us/staff-profiles/faculty-of-health/public-health-institute/harry-sumnall" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Harry Sumnall</a>Harry is Professor in Substance Use in the School of Psychology at Liverpool John Moores University (UK). He is a public health researcher and his work ranges from policy studies to development and trialling of drug prevention and harm reduction interventions. He is a former member of the UK Government’s Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), and is a founding member of the UK Anti Stigma Network. Leah McLeodIllicit drugs, and the community of people who use them, have been central to Leah McLeod’s life for 40 years. About 20 years ago she found the drug user movement and relief from the wall of stigma that positioned her as variously diseased, weak, corrupt, victimised, infantile, evil and a burden on society. Bringing high level work experience in consultation and policy brokerage, media liaison, writing and fine arts, along with a decision to be “out and proud”, Leah began working to advance the health, rights and dignity of people who use drugs. She has recently joined the <a href="https://inpud.net/" title="https://inpud.net/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">International Network of People who Use Drugs (INPUD)</a> as a Communications Specialist, after 11 years at the <a href="https://nuaa.org.au/" title="https://nuaa.org.au/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">NSW Users and AIDS Association (NUAA)</a> as the Communications and Community Engagement Program Lead and the Editor of Users News and Insiders News. She is in her 2nd term as the vice-chair of the <a href="https://aivl.org.au/" title="https://aivl.org.au/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Australian Injecting &amp; Illicit Drug Users League (AIVL)</a>. <h3>About Spotlight on Stigma:</h3>This occasional seminar series presented by the <a href="https://www.unsw.edu.au/research/csrh" title="https://www.unsw.edu.au/research/csrh" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">UNSW Centre for Social Research in Health </a>explores the cutting-edge of stigma science, policy, and practice. We will draw on insights from national and international experts with the aim of building awareness and skills in the use of stigma concepts and evidence. Through this series, we hope to contribute to developing a shared literacy around key concepts in stigma, centrally involve people with lived experience in examining and unpacking research and advance our efforts to reduce the effects of stigma in Australia. <h3>Facilitators:</h3><a href="https://www.unsw.edu.au/staff/carla-treloar" title="https://www.unsw.edu.au/staff/carla-treloar" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Scientia Professor Carla Treloar </a>and <a href="https://www.unsw.edu.au/staff/elena-cama1" title="https://www.unsw.edu.au/staff/elena-cama1" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Dr Elena Cama</a>

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