In collaboration, Spark Recovery and Afta Thought hosted a ‘breaking the stigma’ session to effect change in Blackburn with Darwen including a two-hour drama piece drama highlighted the barriers to recovery.
The session focused on the range of people who access recovery and the range of services available including services which are skilled in trauma informed approach. The session encouraged conversations based on acted out scenarios to help people overcome addiction and establish positive lifestyles.
There were discussions around the importance of use of language. The use of negative terms around drug and alcohol use can worsen the sense of stigma with suggestions to use ‘substance use disorder’ as the correct term to describe a person with a drug or alcohol dependency.
Trigger warnings were given before sensitive subjects were covered – drug and alcohol addiction, suicide and human traffic.
The audience included customers and different partner agencies who were invited to participate in the conversations. Representatives from Early Break Public Health, Women’s Centre, BwD Welbeing Service.
AftaThought have over twenty years experience of using people’s real experiences. They take this research and create dramatic presentations from the experience they have gained.