RAAD Podcast

Welcome back to RAAD's Plugged-in Podcast! In this episode, Rita and Karen dive into a critical conversation about naloxone—what it is, how it works, and why it's a key tool in combating the opioid crisis. They're joined by Tiana, an affiliate for NaloxAnon, a program that distributes free naloxone kits across Ontario. Together, they break down common misconceptions, discuss the importance of harm reduction, and explore how we can shift the narrative to normalize carrying naloxone. Whether you're new to the topic or already an advocate, this episode will leave you informed, empowered, and ready to take action. Tune in and join the conversation!

On today's episode of RAAD's Plugged In Podcast, the 2024-2025 Co-heads of Recovery Addiction Awareness Day (RAAD), Karen and Rita, are joined by their supervisors, Prabhleen and Asiba, to recap the 2025 RAAD event. RAAD is a student-led initiative dedicated to raising awareness about recovery, reducing stigma, and fostering open conversations about substance use. The team discusses key moments from the event, including the 14 community and campus organizations that hosted booths, inspiring lived experience speakers, an insightful community resources panel, and musical performances by Charity Chords and Megan Ho. Tune in for a conversation about the importance of community, recovery, and breaking the stigma. Stay connected by following @raad.uwo on Instagram!

In this episode of RAAD's Plugged-In Podcast, we explore harm reduction—an essential yet often misunderstood approach to supporting individuals who use substances. Karen is joined by two experts in the field: Lily Bialas, Manager of Counterpoint Harm Reduction Services at the Regional HIV/AIDS Connection, and Sean Warren, Community Harm Reduction Consultant from the London InterCommunity Health Centre. Together, they discuss what harm reduction really means, the impact of services like the needle syringe program, and common misconceptions to shed light on how we can all contribute to a more informed and supportive community.

In this episode, we dive into the heart of Recovery Addiction Awareness Day (RAAD) with its current and former Co-Heads. They share how their journeys with RAAD began, the most rewarding moments they've experienced, and the ways the initiative has shaped their personal and professional growth. Looking forward, we also explore their visions for the future, including new ideas for RAAD's growth and advice for the next generation of co-heads. Join us for an inspiring conversation about passion, advocacy, and the impact of raising awareness for recovery and addiction.

Today's episode is a recap of this year's RAAD event, which took place on March 13th. The two co-heads (Asiba and Prabhleen) sit down with the two project supervisors (Raha and Erica) to summarize and reflect on this year's RAAD event. As always, please reach out to us @raad.uwo on Instagram to let us know your thoughts/comments/ideas!

We are back with another RAAD "Plugged-in" podcast, this time a joint episode with Western's Peer Support podcast! We discuss the upcoming RAAD event and why you should attend. As always, please reach out to us with any questions or comments through our Instagram account, @raad.uwo ! The RAAD event will be held on March 13th, in the UCC Atrium, from 10am until 3pm. Please come out and join us! More info regarding the event can be found on our Instagram page.

Join us today to discuss immediate resources at Western University for students! We have two special guests today, Kim Reynolds and Amanda Pfeffer, who will be talking about the Western Special Constable Service (WSCS); what it is, who can use it, etc. This episode is quite informative for any Western student, as we discuss common misperceptions that many students have about WSCS and what type of situations to reach out in. Let us know your thoughts by reaching out to us @raad.uwo on Instagram!

On this episode of the RAAD "Plugged In" Podcast, we discuss the portrayal of addiction in the television series, Painkiller. This show seeks to expose the origins of the opioid epidemic in the U.S., catalyzed by Purdue Pharma. The series displays different perspectives of those who were the key players in the opioid crisis, including the victims and those who benefitted from them.

In this episode, Dr. Martyn Judson returns to the Plugged In podcast to discuss the lack of education surrounding addiction in medical schools. Dr. Judson sheds light on some of the actions that we as a society should take to better support those with lived experience of substance use issues.

This is the first episode of a new series where we discuss the portrayal of addiction and substance use in the media. In this episode, we talk about music written by those who have lived experience and its ability to cultivate a sense of solidarity. Please send us song suggestions to discuss in future episodes at our instagram @raad.uwo!