The Needle and the Narrative

Shae Dalrymple is a harm reduction activist and writer with extensive lived experience and a passion for human rights, especially bodily autonomy. She graduated from Ohio University with a bachelor's of science in journalism in 2012 and spent several years working as a reporter, writer, and editor at newspapers covering Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina. After witnessing too ma...

In today's The Needle and the Narrative epiosode Marc and Kris sit down for a Appalachian gathering debrief to talk about the first annual Central Appalachian Harm Reduction Cohort, organized by Virginia Harm Reduction Coalition. This was a great gathering of grassroots syringe service programs operating in and around Appalachia.  Kris also announces Jessica's Walk for Overdose Awareness: details...

In this episode of the Needle and the Narrative we sit down with Challenges Inc SC staff, Tina Kasson. Tina is a Harm Reduction Specialist who is passionate about changing the conversation around drug use. She draws on her educational background in social work and lived experience to replace judgment with genuine human connection. Tina’s work is rooted in the belief that safety and bodily autonomy...

On this episode of The Needle and The Narrative, Marc and Raymond sit down with Challenges Inc SC program manager Kris Stepp. Kris has been around the Challenges Inc ethos for several years and has helped it grow to what it is today. We are grateful to have him back on the team and providing drug user health in South Carollina.  Visit www.challengesinc.org to learn more about harm reduction in Sou...

On this episode, we highight Challenges Inc SC staff Lysandra Ryan. Lysandra has a wealth of lived experince and Harm Reduction work. We sit down to learn more about her as a person and what keeps her showing up every day. To learn more about harm reduction work in South Carolina visit www.challengesinc.org  To learn more about the MAP program for safer smoking supplies visit www.smokeworks.org Be...

This is a segment from an old converstation with local clinic physician Dr. Quang Pham in 2023. Dr. Pham was willing to create a fast track for clients coming from our SSP to his clinic for primary care, addiction medicine, and HCV treatment and did so outside of the usual systemic confines that regulate medicine and community partnerships. Dr. Pham has since moved away from the area but his prese...

In this episode Raymond interviews the founder and director of Challenges Inc SC, Marc Burrows. We cover the history of Challenges Inc, the reasons for starting the first syringe service program in South Carolina and learn about parts of the journey since then.  Special thanks to Counter Narrative Project for their support to lift up this work.  https://thecounternarrative.org/ To learn more about...

Episode 4 of the four part series funded by the Counter Narrative Project. Carrying the story forward; lived experience, leadership, and harm reduction. Come along as we discuss idenity, substance use, HIV, sex work, housing, and fighting healthcare stigma.  Raymond Velazquez-Turner is a public health leader and harm reduction advocate working with the Western North Carolina AIDS Project and Chall...

The Needle and the Narrative, episode 3 of the new series with support from the Counter Narrative Project. We'll be digging into how substance use, HIV risk, and LGBTQ+ identity intersect, along with the barriers folks face in accessing affirming care and harm reduction services.  Nathaniel Bush is the author of two books; one of original poetry that addresses themes of sex, love, spirituality, ad...

The Needle and the Narrative; Episode 2 – “Not a Statistic: BIPOC Health & Harm Reduction” We examine how systemic racism and health disparities heighten HIV risk for BIPOC communities, and uplift culturally responsive approaches and grassroots health interventions. Thank you to the Counter Narrative Project for making this series possible. Margaret Denise Bordeaux (she/her/hers) Margaret has...

Michael Harney from Western North Carolina AIDS Project (WNCAP). Intersecting Stories: HIV, Drug User Health, and Vulnerable Communities. This four-part series aims to amplify the voices of communities impacted by HIV, while exploring the role of harm reduction in addressing health disparities. Each episode focuses on a different vulnerable population, combining lived experience, expert perspectiv...

Zach Rhoads joins the Challenging Pathos podcast to discuss all things "out of the box", when it comes to treating addiction. Why do we do the things we do? Why don't we follow the evidence? and What's the cost? Zach and Stanton Peele co authored the book "Outgrowing Addiction, With Common Sense Instead of Disease Therapy" which disputes the disease concept of addiction and more. You can purchase...

In this episode, we speak with Haven Wheelock from Portland, OR on the historic passing of "Measure 110" that decriminalizes personal drug possession in the state of Oregon. www.outsidein.org/health-services/needle-exchange/ www.challengesinc.org Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-needle-and-the-narrative--1518412/support .

Garth Mullins, host of the astounding "Crackdown" podcast shares his perspective on drug user issues from his home in downtown Vancouver's Eastside. We discuss the recent drug policy changes with Mississippi's medical cannabis bill and decriminalization in Oregon. Garth shares his experience with how illegal syringe exchange helped keep him safe in younger years. Learn more about Garth at https://...

On this episode we discuss different types of advocacy and intra agency growth. Greg Huckins is a peer-support specialist working for a recovery community organization as a member of the SBIRT team in the local hospital emergency department. His role is to help guide individuals through the beginning stages of recovery. JoAnna Vance is a person in long-term recovery from substance use disorder and...

Chase Holleman, LMSW, is a person in recovery from substance use disorder who advocates for medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and works as Program Director for the syringe services program at UNC Greensboro in North Carolina. Chase is well known for his recent TedTalk, where he describes his experience in the war on drugs. https://youtu.be/UYtucOa_aJs This podcast is powered by Challenges Inc, s...

Alex Elswick, PhD joins the show to discuss stigma, shame, and using recreational substances in recovery from substance use disorder. Alex holds a Master’s Degree in Family Science from the University of Kentucky and is a person in long term recovery. He is a cofounder of Voices of Hope. https://www.voicesofhopelex.org/ www.challengesinc.org Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker...

Casey Dillon is an experienced digital communicator, specializing in leveraging real-time trends and long-term strategy to develop successful advocacy and communications campaigns. She also serves as the Program Director for Advocates for Opioid Recovery, where she manages communications, media relations and grassroots advocacy efforts to break down barriers to evidence-based addiction treatment....

Mike Todd joins TAP today to discuss the latest advocacy efforts happening in South Carolina. Mike has worked hard to bring legitimacy to recovery housing and is an active voice for the Recovery Advocacy Project in SC. You can follow Mike at www.freedomrecoverycenterofgreenville.org and www.recoveryvoices.com . This episode also celebrates 200 overdose reversals for Challenges Inc, a South Carolin...

MAT advocate and harm reductionist, Riley Koyote from Athens G.A. joins The Addictive Podcast to discuss the latest progress surrounding these topics in Georgia. Riley also runs https://athensqueercollective.org/ and works at https://www.accesspointga.org , providing syringe access to Athens. Vist www.apphemp.com for hemp and CBD products you can trust. Learn more about harm reduction in the south...

Founder of End It For Good, Christina Dent joins us to discuss the challenge of implementing harm reduction strategies in conservative places. She is well known for her TedX Talk in Jackson, Mississippi and other appearances in the drug policy reform movement. Learn more about her work at www.enditforgood.com . Support this podcast and harm reduction in South Carolina at www.challengesinc.org Beco...

Executive Director of RecoveryATX, Jenna Sheldon joins the podcast to discuss the importance of recovery oriented language and how stigma exists even within our own recovery communities. Visit www.recoveryatx.org to learn more about Jenna's work. Visit www.challengesinc.org to see what's happening with harm reduction in South Carolina. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/p...

Former White House staffer and national recovery advocate, Ryan Hampton talks about federal and state funding for recovery support services, the need for syringe services, and the future of decriminalization. Join Ryan in the fight and learn how you can make a difference at www.mobilizerecovery.org . Visit www.challengesinc.org to support SC syringe services. Become a supporter of this podcast: ht...

Mike Malone is the Program Manager at FAVOR Greenville, a recovery community organization in Upstate, S.C. We discuss common challenges in the addiction recovery space including HIPAA, peer-support boundaries, and stigma/shame inducing habits of the treatment industry. Learn more about Mike's work at www.favorgreenville.org . Learn about syringe services and harm reduction at www.challengesinc.org...

David Johnson is a criminal justice organizer with Grassroots Leadership in Austin, TX. We discuss racial inequality during the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd and the global Covid19 pandemic. Email David at djohnson@grassrootsleadership.org and visit http://grassrootsleadership.org/ . Thanks to Jenna Neasbitt @RecoveryATX. Thanks to our sponsor www.apphemp.com , promo code "TAP15". Learn...