Welcoming the Outsider: A Conversation with Drew Callner

Join us as Bronwyn McInturff, an APC board member and a social worker with nearly 25 years of experience working in the substance use field, discusses stigma, the evolution of substance use treatment, and treatment limitations due to funding. 

Bronwyn also tells us about how she was introduced to the mental health field by her mother, who is also a helping professional. She discusses what it was like working with clients at UAB Medicine’s Addiction Recovery Program and being inspired by watching people transform their lives from being in active addiction to thriving in recovery. Although Bronwyn formally retired in 2023, she could not stay away from her passion for too long. She now works part-time providing individual counseling services to clients.

To contact or learn more about UAB Medicine’s Addiction Recovery Program, call 205-975-8524 or visit their website.

Join us as Dr. John Dantzler discusses how he started his career in educational research and program evaluation, but found his way into the field of substance use. Dr. Dantzler discusses the importance of affordable and effective substance use treatment options for everyone. 

Dr. John Dantzler is a professor within UAB’s Department of Psychiatry, the Vice Chair of Substance Abuse Programs at UAB, and the Executive Director of UAB Beacon Recovery and UAB’s Community Justice programs. In addition to his many other roles, Dr. Dantzler serves on APC’s Executive Board.  Thanks to his multiple decades of work in the substance use field, Dr. Dantzler has a unique view of how treatment has changed over the years. One of the changes that has occurred is how people view substance use, and how they have started supporting the Brain Disease Model of Addiction. While stigma still exists, the shift to viewing addiction as a disease has been pivotal to helping those with substance use disorders obtain treatment services. 

While stigma has started to decrease in recent years, barriers to treatment still exist.  One of the main barriers is funding. UAB Beacon is a successful treatment program that works to eliminate that barrier. UAB Beacon Recovery is an accessible treatment option for those in Central Alabama. UAB Beacon Recovery operates on a sliding scale, which bases the cost of treatment based on the client’s income. UAB Beacon Recovery also operates a clinic, known as their Bridge Clinic, which allows patients to see a physician, case manager, and receive an ASAM assessment. The clinic was established to bridge the gaps for those seeking treatment, and reduce the difficulty of navigating the healthcare system to obtain treatment services. 

Link to UAB Beacon: https://www.uabmedicine.org/specialties/beacon-recovery-program/ 

Link to UAB’s Community Justice programs: https://www.uab.edu/medicine/substanceabuse/about

Join us as Liz Read discusses finding out about her loved one’s substance use disorder, and how this discovery and led to her creating Clearlee, an app that provides dignified drug testing. 

Liz Read, a native of Birmingham, Alabama, had her world turned upside down when she discovered that a loved one was suffering from a substance use disorder. This discovery impacted her whole family.  During the time of reestablishing the a foundation to move forward with their lives, Liz’ family member was required to complete drug tests. Liz noted the obstacles and complexity of the drug testing process. This observation sparked her interest in improving the process. In November 2020, Liz presented her concept at Alabama Launchpad’s competition, and much to her surprise, she was the winner of the Concept Stage.

Clearlee is an app that provides families and organizations with empowering accountability through dignified drug testing.  Clearlee provides the person being tested with the necessary testing supplies and detailed instructions, and the person requesting the test receives reliable, real-time information. In addition to working with individual families, Clearlee works with sober living facilities, treatment centers, and employers to provide accountability testing to their clients. 

You can contact Liz at lread@clearlee.com, and for general questions about Clearlee you can contact at hello@clearlee.com. 

https://clearlee.com

Join us as Taylin McCarver discusses what it was like to lose a sibling to a substance use disorder, and how Taylin and her family have used that experience to advocate for people with substance use disorders. 

In this episode, Taylin discusses the years leading up to her brother’s death due to substance use. Taylin discusses what it was like observe her brother throughout his battle with a substance use disorder, which started in his teenage years, and how his substance use disorder impacted their entire family. She tells us about the strain that her brother’s substance use put on their family, and how they had to make changes to how they supported him. 

Taylin’s and her family are passionate advocates for recovery and supporting people with substance use disorders. For several years, they have supported APC through the End Addiction Bham (EAB) walk, formerly End Heroin Bham. Taylin and her family formed Team T.J., which is a group comprised of friends and family that participate in End Addiction Bham to remember T.J. Each year, Team T.J. sells t-shirts, and they donate the proceeds to APC to support substance use prevention initiatives in Central Alabama.  

In addition to being a powerful voice for Team T.J., Taylin is an Academic Advisor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Taylin discusses the importance of supporting her students as a whole and not just academically. 

https://www.wbrc.com/news/fentanyl/

Join us as Jared Murray, a person in long-term recovery and an Admissions Specialist for Momentum Recovery, tells us his story about using substances as a young adult and his pathway to recovery. 

Jared Murray discusses how he first experimented with alcohol and marijuana before starting the 8th grade. While in high school, he eventually started using opioids, benzodiazepines, and cocaine. Despite several negative consequences of his substance use, Jared continued to use substances through college until he eventually went to treatment. After facing legal and academic consequences, Jared re-enrolled at The University of Alabama, and he went on to graduate from UA and help establish UA’s Collegiate Recovery Community. Jared tells us about the role that being connected to others has played in his ability to be successful in his recovery.  In addition to discussing his experience with substance use and recovery, Jared tells us about the role of his parents and how they were impacted by his substance use.  

Today, Jared is a few months shy of being 13 years sober and works as an admissions specialist for Momentum Recovery, an addiction treatment program for young adults between the ages of 18 and 35. Momentum Recovery is located in Wilmington, North Carolina, and is split into two programs, The Creek (men’s program) and The Cove (women’s program) and incorporates Adventure Based Therapy, which is highly effective with young adults.  Jared can be contacted at 205-600-4312 and jared@momentumrecovery.com. 

https://www.momentumrecovery.com/

https://cris.sa.ua.edu/

Join us as Morgan Grace, the Resource Coordinator for APC, tells us about how she got involved with APC and her interest in prevention and harm reduction. 

In 2021, Morgan Grace started at APC as an intern. She ended up at APC after her plan of studying and interning abroad was halted by the pandemic.  Morgan quickly discovered her interest in harm reduction and prevention.  Morgan discusses how growing up in a rural community that has been impacted by substance use has influenced her interest in prevention. In addition to being APC’s resource coordinator, Morgan is also the advisor for APC’s INFOCUS group at Fairfield High School. Morgan’s work with the students at Fairfield High School is one of her proudest accomplishments. 

Check out WBRC’s video on Fairfield High School’s INFOCUS Group:
https://www.wbrc.com/video/2023/05/08/fairfield-city-schools-focusing-students-mental-health/

#addiction #prevention #recovery

Join us as Shawn Windham, a Prevention Specialist with APC, tells us about what brought him to Alabama, his background in law enforcement, and his passion for prevention. 

Shawn Windham is retired police officer from Vaccaville, California, who moved to Alabama and started working on prevention efforts in rural areas, Blount County and St. Clair County, Alabama.  Shawn discusses his prevention work in these counties, adjusting to life in Alabama, and how his interest in prevention in both substance use and other areas. 

Join us as Roger Patteson, an Interventionist with Clear Path Interventions, and a person in long term recovery, shares his story with us. Roger also discusses what it is like to work with and support families with a loved one with a substance use disorder. 

Roger discusses how a lack of stability impacted his early childhood development, world view, and how he handled challenges. Roger started drinking alcohol at age 13, and by age 15, he was concerned about the way he was drinking excessively. 

Today, he has been sober for 22 years, and he is working to empower families to address their family member’s substance use and family dysfunction. Roger discusses spending hours with families, who have lost their ability to function, and working to improve the whole family’s quality of life. Roger talks about the importance of reframing an intervention as an opportunity to be better instead of a punishment and reminding the loved one that they “have got off track,” but can get back on track.  

Clear Path Interventions works with families to assess what is needed to assist families and a loved with a substance use disorder. Clear Path Interventions also provides coaching for families to support their loved one throughout treatment and recovery.  They also teach people how to be a sober companion to their loved one. Clear Path Interventions encourages families to not give up on their loved one. “If they’re breathing, there is still hope.”

Join us as Dr. Mark Wilson, the immediate past Health Officer of the Jefferson County Department of Health, discusses the formation of the Recovery Resource Center, the loss of his daughter, and what life will look like after retiring from the Jefferson County Department of Health.

 Dr. Wilson discusses collaborating with the Addiction Prevention Coalition and other organizations to identify needs for those with substance use disorders. This collaboration led to the formation of the Recovery Resource Center (RRC), which is now a program of the Crisis Center. The RRC was established in the Fall of 2017 as a response to the increasing opioid-related deaths occurring in Jefferson County, and the need to have a central resource to help people struggling with substance use to navigate treatment and recovery.  

 Dr. Wilson discusses what it was like to serve in a public health role during the pandemic. He also discusses the death of his daughter, Laura, who experienced mental health challenges and died by suicide in December 2022.  Dr. Wilson talks about his decision to retire, what retirement will look like for him, and his determination to stay connected to public health and patient care. 

www.recoveryresourcejeffco.com/
www.crisiscenterbham.org/recovery-resource-center/

 Link to podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOE6pcZH9uw

Dr. Joel Bennett is the President of Organizational Wellness and Learning Systems (OWLS), an organization that focuses on promoting organizational health and employee wellness in the workplace. 

Dr. Joel Bennett discusses what it was like to grow up in a home with a parent with an alcohol use disorder, and another parent with a process addiction. He also discusses how seeing a relationship go awry sparked his fascination in the how people form and maintain relationships and the importance of connection. 

Dr. Joel Bennett has always been fascinated by how one’s work impacts one’s identity, how work can be a powerful place for people to be healthy, and a strong protective factor. Through OWLS, he works with organizations on how to improve the wellness and mental well-being of employees on all levels. In addition to serving as the President of OWLS, Dr. Bennett is also the primary developer of “Team Awareness” and “Team Resilience,” evidence-based programs that have been recognized by the United States Department of Health as effective in reducing employee behavioral risks.

Link to OWLS: https://organizationalwellness.com/