Aced It

Outpatient Counseling

In this episode, I talk about the role of outpatient counseling and overdose response in supporting people with opioid use disorders (OUDs). I begin by discussing why outpatient services are central to recovery and how they often function as the first and most common point of care. I review research showing that many outpatient programs still lack access to medications for OUD and often are not fully prepared to respond to overdoses. I examine community-based outreach efforts that connect directly with people after an overdose, including peer-led models that have shown high engagement and strong referral outcomes. I end by discussing how outpatient programs can strengthen recovery through harm reduction, persistent outreach, and person-centered support. 
Download the one-pager (PDF).
This project was supported by Grant [5PBJA-22-AG-00031-MUMU] awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking. Points of view or opinions in this podcast are those of the host and the research team and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Residential and Inpatient Rehab

In this episode, I explore the purpose, structure, and effectiveness of residential and inpatient rehabilitation for opioid use disorder. I discuss why these programs are needed, what treatments they provide, and how individuals experience them. I review research showing that inpatient care can support early withdrawal but does not always lead to stronger long-term outcomes, and I highlight barriers such as limited referrals and long waitlists. This episode closes with a discussion of how inpatient programs can still serve as an important starting point in recovery and an introduction to our next episode on outpatient counseling. 
Download the one-pager (PDF).
This project was supported by Grant [5PBJA-22-AG-00031-MUMU] awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking. Points of view or opinions in this podcast are those of the host and the research team and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Behavioral Therapies

In this episode, I explore the behavioral therapies used to support recovery from opioid use disorder. I walk through the evidence behind the use of cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, and contingency management. I review evidence on how these therapies work, what research shows about their effectiveness, and where their limitations appear. I also discuss newer integrative approaches, including mindfulness-based interventions, and examine how real-world barriers shape access and implementation. Finally, I lay the groundwork for the next episode, which takes us inside inpatient and residential treatment programs.
Download the one-pager (PDF).
This project was supported by Grant [5PBJA-22-AG-00031-MUMU] awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking. Points of view or opinions in this podcast are those of the host and the research team and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD)

In this episode, I introduce Season 13 of the ACED IT podcast and set the stage for our focus on how prevention, treatment, and recovery strategies are adapting to the ongoing crisis. I dive into medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), explaining what these treatments are, how they work, and why they matter. I walk through the evidence behind the use of methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone, highlight common myths and misconceptions, and discuss what research tells us about MOUD’s lifesaving potential. I close by examining the personal and structural challenges people experience in treatment, including stigma and barriers to access, and I reflect on our collective responsibility to support recovery.
Download the one-pager (PDF).
This project was supported by Grant [5PBJA-22-AG-00031-MUMU] awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking. Points of view or opinions in this podcast are those of the host and the research team and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Harm Reduction & Social Service Workers

In the final episode this season, I talk about harm reduction and social service workers’ roles, responsibilities, and reactions to overdose. I talk about the emotional toll of this work, some of the challenges social service workers face, strategies they use, and how their work is evolving in response to overdoses in the community.
Download the one-pager (PDF).
This project was supported by Grant [5PBJA-22-AG-00031-MUMU] awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking. Points of view or opinions in this podcast are those of the host and the research team and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Witnesses & Bystanders

In this episode, I talk about witnesses’ and bystanders’ roles, responsibilities, and reactions to overdose. I discuss how witnesses and bystanders address or perceive overdoses in the community, and the steps they take to save the life of someone who is overdosing. I talk about the hesitation witnesses experience around getting involved, and why education and access to resources are so important. 
Download the one-pager (PDF).
This project was supported by Grant [5PBJA-22-AG-00031-MUMU] awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking. Points of view or opinions in this podcast are those of the host and the research team and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Educational Settings

In this episode, I talk about schools’ and colleges’ roles, responsibilities, and reactions to overdose. I describe how school nurses are positioned to notice red flags and intervene early, the implementation and use of naloxone in educational settings, how colleges are training staff to respond to overdoses, and how schools are preparing themselves – and their young learners – to tackle the overdose crisis. 
Download the one-pager (PDF).
This project was supported by Grant [5PBJA-22-AG-00031-MUMU] awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking. Points of view or opinions in this podcast are those of the host and the research team and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Community Supervision Staff

In this episode, I talk about community supervision staffs’ roles, responsibilities, and reactions to overdose. Community supervision staff include probation and parole officers. I cover what CS staff think about naloxone, the training they receive, how community supervision is viewed as a “touchpoint” for getting people treatment, and some of the policy recommendations surrounding implementing naloxone in community supervision. 
Download the one-pager (PDF).
This project was supported by Grant [5PBJA-22-AG-00031-MUMU] awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking. Points of view or opinions in this podcast are those of the host and the research team and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Prison & Jail Staff

In this episode, I talk about prison and jail staffs’ roles, responsibilities, and reactions to overdose. From 2001 to 2018, overdose deaths in state prisons rose by more than 600% and overdose deaths in county jails increased by more than 200%. I talk about the various harm-reduction strategies that have been implemented in prisons and jails, including how staff feel about these strategies. I also discuss the emotional toll that these incidents take on staff. 
Download the one-pager (PDF).
This project was supported by Grant [5PBJA-22-AG-00031-MUMU] awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking. Points of view or opinions in this podcast are those of the host and the research team and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.

ED Doctors & Nurses

In this episode, I talk about emergency department (ED) doctors’ and nurses’ roles, responsibilities, and reactions to overdose. Across multiple studies, researchers have examined the experiences of patients and staff in the ED, shedding light on the challenges, stigma, and opportunities that arise in treating opioid use disorder and preventing future overdoses. I talk about what the research tells us about patient perspectives, provider attitudes, and the future of harm-reduction strategies in the ED.
Download the one-pager (PDF).
This project was supported by Grant [5PBJA-22-AG-00031-MUMU] awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking. Points of view or opinions in this podcast are those of the host and the research team and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.