Help Us Raise Awareness
to improve access to treatment for substance use disorders and related mental disorders.
Help Us Raise Awareness
to improve access to treatment for substance use disorders and related mental disorders.
Recent Research
Current Research Regarding Legal Performance-Enhancing Substance and Substance Use Problems Among Young Adults
Opioids and Covid 19: The Impact of the Pandemic on Efforts to Prevent and Treat Opioid Use Disorder
At Your Ally Foundation, Our Work is Based on 8 Core Values
Respect
Use non-stigmatizing language to reduce social stigma related to substance use and related mood disorders.
Collaboration
Partner with established social agitators and collaborate with vetted entities in the community to disseminate factual information.
Inclusion
Addiction knows no boundaries. Everyone is directly or indirectly affected, no matter the social economic status, education status, ethnicity or gender. We aim to work with everyone seeking help and support.
Excellence in Programming
Develop evidence-based treatment approaches that work. Many traditional addiction treatment models being used today are antiquated and do not meet the current needs.
Growth
Take a targeted approach to grow the foundation's resources to better meet identified needs.
Fostering Creativity
Use creative and non-traditional means of addressing addictions in the youth. Creativity is increasingly being validated as a potent mind/body approach as well as a cost-effective intervention to address a variety of challenges across the lifespan.
Innovation
Use new and innovative approaches to treat those struggling with substance use disorders and to educate treatment personnel.
Bi-Directional Learning
Use bi-directional data exchange and collaborative workflows to understand patients and minimize harm related to substance use. Your Ally Foundation's goal is to shine a light on how to care for patients with addictions in a culturally congruent manner.
Breaking Barriers and Reducing Stigma
The following information is credited to the Greyken Center for Addiction Medicine.
Non-Stigmatizing Language
- Person with a substance use disorder
Stigmatizing Language
- Substance abuser or drug abuser
- Alcoholic
- Addict
- User
- Abuser
- Drunk
Non-Stigmatizing Language
- Babies born with an opioid dependency
Stigmatizing Language
- Addicted babies / born addicted
Non-Stigmatizing Language
- Substance use disorder or addiction
- Use, misuse
Stigmatizing Language
- Drug habit
- Abuse
- Problem
Non-Stigmatizing Language
- Person in recovery
- Abstinent
- Not drinking or taking drugs
Stigmatizing Language
- Clean
Non-Stigmatizing Language
- Treatment or medication for addiction
- Medication for Opioid Use Disorder/Medication for Alcohol Use Disorder
- Positive, negative (toxicology screen results)
Stigmatizing Language
- Substitution or replacement therapy
- Medication-Assisted Treatment
- Clean, dirty
Locations in Africa Where We Collaborate
National Referral Hospital Butabika, Kampala Uganda
National Referral Hospital Butabika, Kampala Uganda
Chainama Hills National Referral Hospital, Lusaka Zambia
Achieving the Best Outcome at Your Ally Foundation
Preventing drug misuse and diminishing its health effects
Primary Prevention
Achieve the best outcome by taking action to intervene before identified at-risk groups gain access to substances. This includes sensitizing the public at large, especially when the main goal is to target those who have yet to access substances but are at high risk. Examples are school age children, the youth, and low social economic status individuals.
At this stage our goal is to reduce or mitigate identified risky behaviors. We provide factual, evidenced-based scientific information about the brain and addictions. Additionally, we address behaviors that may contribute to alcohol, illicit substances and tobacco use.
On a policy level, we advocate public health interventions that restrict access to substances, e.g. easily accessible alcohol sachet packaging, requiring IDs to obtain alcohol at sources of supply, etc.
Secondary Prevention
By using standardized and verified tools, identify those who have experimented with substances but are not consistent users.
Providing community outreach to them in the earliest stages, before the they begin using consistently, is beneficial. At this stage, we are building on the primary prevention interventions and continue with support to mitigate conversion to consistent substances users.
Our expected outcome is that this cohort of people does not progress to using substances regularly or ceases to use completely.
At this stage we are also supporting healthcare providers and trained community advocates to provide services. These services include psycho education regarding substances, training providers to use motivational enhancement and using motivational interviewing skills. Providing online resources and using social media to leverage access to factual information is vital.
Tertiary Prevention
Provide outreach to those already addicted and are regular substance users. For post diagnosis and treatment, the goal is reduction in use and maintenance of sobriety (harm reduction). A major component of tertiary prevention is post-rehabilitation relapse prevention.
Here we are talking about long term rehabilitation and screening for complications related to substance use such as related mental disorders — for example depression, anxiety and PTSD — and addressing them. This is to be done with individuals achieving sustained sobriety.
Interventions include long term residential treatment and advocating for continued substance use treatment through evidence-based modalities including Smart Recovery, AA, NA. Educating the family and friends to support this group has been shown to yield desired outcomes. Connecting this cohort to community organizations for supported employment adds value and meaning to their lives.
Expected outcome is to prevent further injury, including death, from complications related to substance use. We advocate for less punitive policies that give them a second chance at a productive life.
Other Preventions Include:
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Parenting education classes about the psychopathology of addictions.
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Educating policy makers about addictions and the chronic nature of the illness.
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Advocating for a less punitive approach to substances use and related sequalae.
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Sensitizing the public about trauma and its correlation to substance use.
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Supporting addictions healthcare personnel — empowering them to provide quality care, prevent moral injury and provide continuing education.
Susan Wilkinson, founder of Your Ally Foundation, is a Member of:
