UR Medicine Recovery Center of Excellence hosted the Taking Action National Rural Substance Use Disorder Health Equity and Stigma Summit May 18-20, 2022, at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY.  A hybrid in-person and virtual event, the summit convened a diverse group of people with deep knowledge of the issues and dedication to finding solutions to discuss how stigma and health inequity increase barriers around substance use disorder (SUD). More importantly, presenters shared their knowledge, perspectives, and experience about how to overcome stigma and health inequities and more effectively address the SUD crisis in rural communities.

Speakers included people with lived experience of SUD, artists, authors, providers, researchers, policymakers, and advocates. Participants were encouraged to connect with presenters and one another to grow their network of similarly committed colleagues, candidly discuss stigma and health equity related to SUD, and share strategies and solutions.

One hour recordings include:

• Peer recovery and lived experience - Gina Brockway, CRPA, Peer Recovery Specialist, CASA Trinity
• Bridging the gap: utilizing peer support services every step of the way - Yara M. Castro, Health & Social Services Manager, Mariposa Community Health Center, Martin Felix, Jail Liaison, Santa Cruz County Justice Court, Kassandra Figueroa, Peer Navigator, HOPE, Inc.
• Addressing the stigma of substance use disorders - Lisham Ashrafioun, PhD, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
• Stigma and bias in the treatment of substance use disorders: clinical impact and opportunities for change - Peter Jackson, MD, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine
• Reducing the shame and stigma of SUD - Marcus Buchanan, PRSS, Outreach Coordinator, Cherokee County Health Services Council, Dusty Rollice, PRSS, Peer Recovery Support Specialist, Cherokee County Health Services Council
• Information messages to reduce SUD stigma and increase recovery housing support - Madison Ashworth, Research Associate, Fletcher Group, Inc., Robin Thompson, DrPH, MPH, Director of Research & Evaluation, Fletcher Group, Inc.
• The ROADSS Model: removing barriers on the road to recovery - Patrick Seche, MS, CASAC, Senior Director of Addiction Services & Senior Associate, Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center
• Well-intended stereotypes and my role in the recovery movement - Kelly Quinn, CRPA-F, RCP, Community Outreach Specialist, Strong Recovery, University of Rochester Medical Center
• Challenges to rural behavioral health service providers - Robert A. Ross, President & CEO, St. Joseph’s Addiction Treatment & Recovery Centers, 
• Wearing two hats: being an addiction professional and being a person in recovery, being happy, joyous and free, even of stigma - Charles W. Morgan, Health Equity Advocate & Addiction Medicine Specialist