Pacific Southwest ROTA-R – Upcoming Training

Substance Use Stigma Reduction: Creating Respectful Communications for Change

In preparation for the upcoming Substance Use Stigma Reduction: Creating Respectful Communications for Change training being held in Las Vegas on June 5-6^th, 2025, we would like to share some specific examples of communication that can be used to challenge stigma and promote overall understanding of substance use, from print materials and press coverage to digital content and social media platforms.

We know that stigma surrounding substance use can create barriers to treatment, recovery, and overall well-being not only for clientele, but also allies, families, stakeholders and/or their communities. Effective messaging plays a crucial role in shaping public perception and encouraging supportive conversation.

This 2-day training was developed to support nutrition professionals and substance use treatment, recovery, prevention and harm reduction providers/organizations to:

Understand the impact of reducing substance use stigma
Learn how to create and develop stigma reduction campaigns, messaging, products, and resources designed specifically for their clientele

Harm Reduction Poster (English)

This poster identifies some of the most common harm reduction methods in an attempt to normalize the term “harm reduction” and broaden the definition.

Harm Reduction Poster (Spanish)

Spanish version of poster identifies some of the most common harm reduction methods in an attempt to normalize the term “harm reduction” and broaden the definition.

Be Prepared Poster

Naloxone is a safe, life-saving medication that can reverse an overdose from opioids. Termed an ‘opioid overdose reversal medication’, Naloxone is easy to carry and administer. This poster illustrates being prepared for an overdose emergency by having an opioid overdose reversal medication on-hand, just like people commonly have a fire extinguisher on-hand for a fire emergency.

Both Save Lives Poster

Naloxone is a safe, life-saving medication that can reverse an overdose from opioids. Termed an ‘opioid overdose reversal medication’, Naloxone is easy to carry and administer. This poster illustrates the comparison of Naloxone with an automated external defibrillator (AED), another life-saving tool.

Stimulant Trifold Brochures

Stimulant Information Brochures for Providers or Consumers help educate on stimulants, including the effects of stimulants use, pregnancy and stimulant use, and treatment options for persons using stimulants.

Opioid Trifold Brochures

Opioid Information Brochures for Providers or Consumers help educate on opioids and opioid use, including effects of opioid use, pregnancy and opioid use, medications for opioid use including opioid overdose reversal medications, and treatment options for persons using opioids.

Perinatal Stigma Prompt and Reminder Posters

Stigma associated with substance use disorders (SUDs) is a significant barrier to identification and treatment efforts. Persons with SUDs who are pregnant and/or parenting are particularly impacted by stigma and may be subject to adverse encounters when seeking healthcare services. The MPATTC developed clinician-focused and client-focused posters to help address barriers associated with perinatal stigma. It is recommended the posters be displayed in locations visible to both clients and clinicians.

CASAT Conversations Podcast

CASAT Conversations is a resource for exploring behavioral health topics. These topics explore the complex connection between how our environment, behaviors and actions impact our health and wellbeing. With a wide-range of timely topics, CASAT Conversations is geared towards having meaningful conversations with people sharing their capacity for personal growth and change, along with expert educational insights.

NOCE Dose Podcast

The NOCE Dose: The Opioid Crisis Unplugged is a concise and insightful podcast offering a deeper dive into the realities faced by professionals and champions combating the opioid epidemic within Nevada. Join us as we reconnect with expert panelists from our Listening Sessions, providing a behind-the-scenes look at their work and insights into the pressing issues of prevention and diversion, harm reduction, opioid use treatment, recovery, and reoccurrence prevention.

Lions, Tigers and Bears Podcast

You know Motivational Interviewing (MI) as an evidence-based counseling method for behavior change, but are you getting the most out of it? Join longtime friends, colleagues, and Motivational Interviewing Network Trainers Amy Shanahan and Paul Warren as they discuss the intricacies of MI spirit, intentionality, evoking change talk, and reveal what MI is not. If you want to increase your MI skills, reflect on your practice, and improve your partnership with clients, link arms with Amy and Paul as they venture down the yellow brick road.

Rose Colored Glasses Podcast

Podcast hosts will discuss how alcohol use and the risk for alcohol-related problems change over women’s lifespan from adolescence to college-age, early careers, pregnancy, parenting, empty-nest, retirement and aging.

Sample Video Shorts

Medical Assistance Partnership for Healthy Pregnancies and Families – series of education videos on topics such as: Alcohol and the Immune System; Compassion Fatigue: Self care and Alcohol; Language Matters

Training and Technical Assistance for SBIRT Video clips

This brief virtual presentation will provide a guide through several Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) training and technical assistance options that are available to medical professionals licensed to practice in the state of Nevada (including physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, licensed midwives and licensed clinical social workers) to learn about strategies to implement SBIRT within your healthcare or OBGYN setting.

X Post

A sample PS ROTA-R “X” account re-post of a SAMHSA resource on the SPARK Resource Center – supports for housing.

Instagram Post

A sample PS ROTA-R Instagram post sharing the START to Be Safe Product Suite of products focused on harm reduction.

Harm Reduction Social Media Toolkit

The Harm Reduction Social Media Toolkit is designed to help share knowledge about the dangers of opioid use, learn how to prevent opioid overdose/poisoning, and provide education on harm reduction. The toolkit is available for anyone to download during the six weeks leading up to International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31. The toolkit was created and designed by the Pacific Southwest Rural Opioid Technical Assistance Regional center (ROTA-R) to raise awareness of harm reduction and opioid overdose prevention.

#Itsallharmreduction

What would Jesus do about fentanyl? News Article by Dr. Scott Walters

Op Ed piece written by Dr. Scott Walters, professor at the University of North Texas Health Center about the current opioid epidemic.

Nevada Opioid Center of Excellence Newsletter

Nevada Opioid Center of Excellence (NOCE) newsletter; sent quarterly to persons on the subscribed NOCE Listserv or available online.

CASAT OnDemand Newsletter

CASAT newsletter; sent monthly to persons on the subscribed CASAT Listserv or available online.

Medical Assistant Partnership for Healthy Pregnancies Newsletter

Medial Assistant Partnership for Healthy Pregnancies newsletter; sent quarterly to persons on the subscribed Listserv or available online.