In this episode of Let's Talk About Drugs in the Intermountain West, we’re joined by PARCKA’s Director of Research, Jerry Cochran, PhD, MSW. Dr. Cochran shares the unexpected paths his career has taken and how those experiences ultimately led him to his current work in substance use research. You can learn more about Dr. Cochran at medicine.utah.edu/faculty/gerald-cochran.

This podcast comes from the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Program of Addiction Research, Clinical Care, Knowledge, and Advocacy (PARCKA)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. The mission of PARCKA is to promote and provide addiction related research, clinical care, knowledge and advocacy across the University of Utah, the local community, the State of Utah, and the nation.

The opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect the official views of University of Utah Health or its leadership.

In this episode of Let's Talk About Drugs in the Intermountain West, we speak with friend of the podcast, Jenna Murray, MPH, about the progress of ELEVATE's CEREMONY Study. Jenna also shares insights from her research exploring how social networks may influence substance use and birth outcomes among pregnant Native patients participating in CEREMONY.

To sign up for upcoming ELEVATE/SUPeRAD Brown Bag Learning Lunches or to watch previous sessions, visit their website.

This podcast comes from the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Program of Addiction Research, Clinical Care, Knowledge, and Advocacy (PARCKA)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. The mission of PARCKA is to promote and provide addiction related research, clinical care, knowledge and advocacy across the University of Utah, the local community, the State of Utah, and the nation.

The opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect the official views of University of Utah Health or its leadership.

In this episode of Let's Talk About Drugs in the Intermountain West we’re spotlighting 6 powerful community resources that are making a difference in our community. Whether you're looking to volunteer, expand your education, or simply get involved, we've got something for everyone.

• Learn more about this month's PARCKA Parley here.
• Pre-register for a Utah Naloxone training here.
• Learn more about the Salt Lake Harm Reduction Project's food pantry here.
• Learn more about the Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake's garden club by emailing [email protected].
• Sign up to be a volunteer mentor with VOA UT here.
• You still have time to sponsor this year's Recovery Day! Find out how here.

This podcast comes from the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Program of Addiction Research, Clinical Care, Knowledge, and Advocacy (PARCKA)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. The mission of PARCKA is to promote and provide addiction related research, clinical care, knowledge and advocacy across the University of Utah, the local community, the State of Utah, and the nation.

The opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect the official views of University of Utah Health or its leadership.

In this episode of Let's Talk About Drugs in the Intermountain West, we hear from Fernando Montero, PhD, as he unpacks the changes in street drug markets across the U.S. since the 1990s. Dr. Montero walks us through the history, the science, and the human impact—all while exploring how these substances are reshaping not just public health, but also the everyday lives of people who use drugs.

• Learn even more about Dr. Fernando Montero here.
• If you would prefer to watch Dr. Montero's talk instead, you can view it here.
• Learn more about the Greater Intermountain Node's research discussion series "On the Rocks" here.

This podcast comes from the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Program of Addiction Research, Clinical Care, Knowledge, and Advocacy (PARCKA)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. The mission of PARCKA is to promote and provide addiction related research, clinical care, knowledge and advocacy across the University of Utah, the local community, the State of Utah, and the nation.

The opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect the official views of University of Utah Health or its leadership.

In this episode of Let’s Talk About Drugs in the Intermountain West, we sit down with Pam Gold, Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors at First Step House. Pam shares the deeply personal story of losing her son, Evan, to a substance use disorder. Through her journey of grief, she has been able to translate her experience into advocacy. Pam now works to honor Evan’s memory by supporting families and communities affected by addiction, offering hope and healing where it’s needed most.

• Find ways to support First Step House here.
• Find USARA support meetings for families and others here.
• Learn more about the book "Beyond Addiction" here.

This podcast comes from the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Program of Addiction Research, Clinical Care, Knowledge, and Advocacy (PARCKA)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. The mission of PARCKA is to promote and provide addiction related research, clinical care, knowledge and advocacy across the University of Utah, the local community, the State of Utah, and the nation.

The opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect the official views of University of Utah Health or its leadership.

In this episode of Let's Talk About Drugs in the Intermountain West, we dive into a powerful conversation from a recent PARCKA Parley featuring Vanessa Genova, CPSS. Join us as we explore the inspiring work of the USARA ARCHES Program. Vanessa shares firsthand insights into how ARCHES is transforming how patients are navigating healthcare systems. Don’t miss this eye-opening discussion on hope, healing, and human connection.

This podcast comes from the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Program of Addiction Research, Clinical Care, Knowledge, and Advocacy (PARCKA)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. The mission of PARCKA is to promote and provide addiction related research, clinical care, knowledge and advocacy across the University of Utah, the local community, the State of Utah, and the nation.

The opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect the official views of University of Utah Health or its leadership.

In this episode of Let's Talk About Drugs in the Intermountain West, we continue our exploration of the substances most affecting our communities. We're joined by Dr. Marcela Smid—a physician, researcher, and advocate—for an in-depth conversation about methamphetamine. Together, we unpack what it is, how it's used, and the impact it's having across the region.

This podcast comes from the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Program of Addiction Research, Clinical Care, Knowledge, and Advocacy (PARCKA)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. The mission of PARCKA is to promote and provide addiction related research, clinical care, knowledge and advocacy across the University of Utah, the local community, the State of Utah, and the nation.

The opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect the official views of University of Utah Health or its leadership.

In this episode of Let’s Talk About Drugs in the Intermountain West, we welcome back friend of the podcast Jasmin Charles, MS, PA-C, for an important conversation about fentanyl. Jasmin breaks down what fentanyl is, how it works in the body, and why it’s become a key focus in public health. Together, we talk about staying safe, advocating for our communities, and approaching this topic with facts, not fear.

Resources:

• Soap2Hope⁠
• ⁠Utah Harm Reduction Coalition⁠
• Utah Naloxone
• Utah Support Advocates for Recovery Awareness - USARA

This podcast comes from the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Program of Addiction Research, Clinical Care, Knowledge, and Advocacy (PARCKA)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. The mission of PARCKA is to promote and provide addiction related research, clinical care, knowledge and advocacy across the University of Utah, the local community, the State of Utah, and the nation.

The opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect the official views of University of Utah Health or its leadership.

In this episode of Let’s Talk About Drugs in the Intermountain West, we’re joined by Kara Kikuchi, ND, from the Center for HOPE at the Huntsman Cancer Institute. Kara shares valuable insights on tobacco use and cessation, highlighting the robust resources available to our . We also explore how to foster more compassionate, non-stigmatizing conversations around tobacco use.

If you or someone you know would like support, please visit utahtfa.org or call 1-800-QUIT-NOW.

This podcast comes from the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Program of Addiction Research, Clinical Care, Knowledge, and Advocacy (PARCKA)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. The mission of PARCKA is to promote and provide addiction related research, clinical care, knowledge and advocacy across the University of Utah, the local community, the State of Utah, and the nation.

The opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect the official views of University of Utah Health or its leadership.

In this episode of Let's Talk About Drugs in the Intermountain West, we dive into the world of reality TV and its impact on how addiction is portrayed and perceived. From harmful stereotypes to moments of unexpected honesty, we explore how these shows shape public understanding—for better or worse—and what happens when real stories manage to break through the noise and stigma.

This podcast comes from the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Program of Addiction Research, Clinical Care, Knowledge, and Advocacy (PARCKA)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. The mission of PARCKA is to promote and provide addiction related research, clinical care, knowledge and advocacy across the University of Utah, the local community, the State of Utah, and the nation.

The opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect the official views of University of Utah Health or its leadership.