FROM PARCKA & THE GREATER INTERMOUNTAIN NODE
Let's Talk About Drugs in the Intermountain West is the weekly podcast from the Program of Addiction Research, Clinical Care, Knowledge, and Advocacy (PARCKA) and the Greater Intermountain Node, where we come together every Wednesday to discuss various topics around addiction.
Hosted by Priscilla Blosser and Mitchell Garets, each episode offers a new conversation around addiction and highlights the work being done to address substance use disorders in our Greater Intermountain West community.
Thank you for joining us, for taking a listen, and joining the conversation!
Let's Talk About Drugs in the Intermountain West can be listened to on Spotify and Apple Podcasts now!
Please see disclaimers below.
Happy Halloween Eve! In this episode of Let’s Talk About Drugs in the Intermountain West, we take you back to earlier this month and listen in on our most recent PARCKA Parley! For this Parley, we were joined by Max Radecky, a Harm Reduction Specialist with the Odyssey House of Utah’s Martindale Clinic. Max shares the services the Martindale Clinic Harm Reduction Program offers and how to promote harm reduction in our circles of influence.
To access harm reduction and syringe exchange services, visit the Martindale Clinic at 743 East 300 South, Salt Lake City, Utah, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.
In this episode of Let's Talk About Drugs in the Intermountain West, we are joined by PARCKA's very own Ashley White, CMHC. Ashley shares with us about her recent trip to Christchurch, New Zealand where she attended the Training New Trainers intensive and forum with the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT).
In this episode of Let's Talk About Drugs in the Intermountain West, we are joined by Jalene Uryuralria Herron, PhD, from the University of New Mexico. Dr. Herron shares with us the power of healing, whether that be healing yourself, those around you, or your communities.
In this episode of Let's Talk About Drugs in the Intermountain West, we talk with Jennifer Sharpe Potter, PhD, MPH, from the University of Texas San Antonio. Dr. Potter shares her experiences in becoming an addiction health services researcher, how to have more empathy and joy in our work, and tell us many of the services offered by Be Well, Texas and the Addiction Research, Treatment, and Training Center of Excellence.
You can learn more about Dr. Potter here, as well as her work with the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Clinical Trial Network's Big South-West Node.
After a short break, Let's Talk About Drugs in the Intermountain West is back! In this episode, we take you to our program's monthly seminar series, PARCKA Parleys, to hear from Lyen C. Huang, MD, MPH, FACS, FASCRS, about his research in promoting the safe disposal and storage of prescription opioids after surgery.
In this episode of Let's Talk About Drugs in the Intermountain West, we are joined by Charlie Johnson, CMHC, a Therapist and Program Manager with the Volunteers of America (VOA) Utah's Family Counseling Center. Charlie shares with us just some of the services VOA Utah offers, how he stands for and with clients, and the importance of resource sharing.
In this episode of Let's Talk About Drugs in the Intermountain West, we are joined by Jami Baayd, MSPH, a Research Development Specialist from the University of Utah's Division of Family Planning. Jami shares her experience conducting qualitative maternal health research and how that experience now supports her as she enters the SUD research world.
In this episode of Let's Talk About Drugs in the Intermountain West, we talk about some of the addiction-related news that our hosts have come across this summer.
Please find a complete list of the articles that we used for this episode below:
- 8 things to know about the drug known as 'gas station heroin
- The Five Big Drug Trends Defining Summer 2024
- How big is Europe’s cocaine problem – and what is the human cost?
- Is the Quality of Cocaine Worse in the United States Than in Europe?
- Nitazenes Have Entered the Drug Scene. Now What?
- Her son died of an overdose in his dorm room. Where was the Narcan?
- What You Can Do to Test for Fentanyl
For more information on the upcoming events and resources we mentioned in this episode, please see below:
This podcast is so brat. In today's episode of Let's Talk About Drugs in the Intermountain West, we are joined by Melissa Tyszko to celebrate brat summer and explore new and unique ways to start conversations around substance use.
In this episode, we are joined by Erin Johnson, PhD to learn more about the ELEVATE Project, her experience in joining SUD research, and more! To join ELEVATE's Brown Bag Lunches, email Dr. Johnson at erin.p.johnson@hsc.utah.edu.
In this episode of Let's Talk About Drugs in the Intermountain West, our hosts are joined by Britnee Sengpraseut and Dylan Dusoe to share stories of recovery, family, and friendship (both old and new).
In this episode of Let's Talk About Drugs in the Intermountain West, we are joined by Jenna Murray, MPH, an MD and PhD student at the University of Utah. We get to hear about her powerful recovery experience, navigate the power of sharing our own stories, and learn more about the CEREMONY Project with Sacred Circle Healthcare.
In this episode of Let's Talk About Drugs in the Intermountain West, our hosts are joined by PARCKA's Director, Adam J. Gordon, MD MPH FACP DFASAM, to learn about this journey to addiction medicine and his efforts in making more equitable spaces in healthcare, research, and beyond.
In this episode of Let's Talk About Drugs in the Intermountain West, we are joined by Jake Magel, PT, PhD, DSc, OCS, FAAOMPT, to talk about the role of Physical Therapists in addressing the opioid epidemic.
In this episode, we celebrate the first ten episodes of Let's Talk About Drugs in the Intermountain West! After reflecting on the last ten weeks, our hosts take it to the halls to hear from others and collect their thoughts on the podcast and what they'd like to see in the future!
It's our 10th episode! In this episode, we are joined by Shauna Filion, the exclusive care coordinator for the SUPeRAD (Substance Use & Pregnancy, Recovery, Addiction, and Dependence) clinic at University of Utah Health. We chat with Shauna about the importance of sharing one's own story with others and showing up authentically and passionately.
Today we are joined by Michael Incze, MD, MSEd, a primary care physician with University of Utah Health, to chat about collaborative care, balancing patient care and research while practicing self-care, and combatting stigma through education.
In this episode, we are joined by Clinical Research Coordinator Elysha Cash as we explore the messiness and joy of human research. We also kick off Pride Month 2024 and what it means to have queer identities in the research space.
In today's episode, we chat with Dr. Ajay Manhapra, the Section Chief of Pain Medicine at the Hampton VA Medical Center, about his experience with collaborative care models, specifically transdisciplinary and biopsychosocial care models. We also talk with Dr. Manhapra about his work as an addictionologist with the Department of Veterans Affairs.
In this episode of Let's Talk About Drugs in the Intermountain West, Mitch and Priscilla are joined by the AAPA's 2024 PA of the Year, Jasmin Charles, MPAS, PA-C, to talk about the root of the word "drug," and what it means to all of us.
In this episode of Let's Talk About Drugs in the Intermountain West, our hosts Priscilla Blosser, RN and Mitchell Garets, MSW are joined by Katie Kinsey, LCSW to learn more about Motivational Interviewing and why it's so effective in addressing substance use disorders.
In this episode of Let's Talk About Drugs in the Intermountain West, we talk with Grace Broussard, MPH, SSW, about some of the complexities of alcohol and opioid co-use.
We do love to gab! In this episode of Let’s Talk About Drugs in the Intermountain West, Mitchell Garets, MSW, is joined by Ashley White, CMHC, as they explore the power of being person-first in all aspects of research and substance use disorder care.
In this episode of Let's Talk About Drugs in the Intermountain West, our hosts are joined by Sr. Clinical Research Coordinator, Grace Humiston, CCRC. Grace shares her background in using harm reduction and meeting people where they're at, both in research and life.
In our debut episode of Let's Talk About Drugs in the Intermountain West, join us as we start sparking meaningful conversations and fostering understanding in an often polarizing and misunderstood topic. Hosts Priscilla Blosser, RN, and Mitchell Garets, MSW, introduce themselves, what brought them to this work, and give hints on all that’s to come!
Priscilla Blosser, RN, BSN
Priscilla joined the PARCKA Team as a Sr. Clinical Research Coordinator in 2021. She graduated from Westminster College in 2014 with a baccalaureate in Nursing. She spent the first 4 years of her nursing career on the inpatient Bone Marrow Transplant and Hematology unit at Huntsman Cancer Hospital, following this she spent some time as a Case Manager with the Neuro Critical Care unit with the University of Utah. Priscilla made the transition from clinical nursing to clinical research nursing in 2019.
"I have loved hearing about the experiences of the people we work with in a way that is not only conversational, but also in a way people can learn from. In this podcast, we are able to get personal with our guests and take account of our diverse backgrounds and experiences to benefit the work we do.”
Mitchell Garets, MSW, CSW
Mitchell is currently an Academic Program Manager with PARCKA and joined the team in 2019. He holds both a bachelor and master degree in Social Work from the University of Utah. Additionally, he holds certifications in "Leadership, Justice, and Community Practice" and "Substance Use Disorder Treatment." Mitchell has worked in substance use disorder research and treatment since 2018 in different capacities, including case management, direct clinical intervention, program/project coordination, community advocacy, and DEI work.
“All of us have the ability to be a part of change, it doesn’t have to just be those in research, healthcare, policy, treatment, and so on. The more we can talk about addiction and substance use disorders openly and safely, the more we can do about it.”
If you would like to connect with us, please email us at PARCKA@hsc.utah.edu.
We are also active on social media! Give us a follow on any or all of the following platforms:
- The opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect the official views of University of Utah Health or its leadership.
- This podcast represents the opinions of our hosts and guests. The content here is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice and does not constitute the practice of professional health care services. Because so much of the information shared here is unique between conversations with our guests, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions you may have.
- We strive to convey the most accurate and up-to-date information on our podcast. However, we cannot always promise the accuracy of the opinions and information shared.
- Some of the topics talked about in our podcast may be considered sensitive by some audiences. The listener's discretion is advised.