Elevyst

Out now!

Sean Fogler and Mattea Kramer spoke with Burt Cohen of Keeping Democracy Alive about the state of mental health in the U.S., and where there is hope and opportunity for positive change.

Listen here or on Apple or Spotify: https://keepingdemocracyalive.com/

And when you're done listening, go buy Mattea's new novel, also out now!: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-untended-a-novel-mattea-kramer/4c7a5667b7d9949e?ean=9781647428877&next=t&

In our most recent report, we examined the beliefs of the general population and those in the criminal justice system workforce in Pennsylvania on fear and distance toward people who use substances, and whether or not they believe someone who uses drugs or alcohol will hide their use.

Nearly a third (32%) of Pennsylvanians said they somewhat or greatly fear a person who struggles with drugs and/or alcohol, and more than half of respondents (54%) believe it is better to keep their distance from someone who struggles in this way.

86% of Pennsylvanians expect people who are struggling with drugs and/or alcohol to hide signs of their use (some of the time, most of the time, or always.)

CJS workforce respondents were less likely than the general population to report feeling afraid of people who struggle with drugs and/or alcohol with 82% reporting no fear or minimal fear, as compared to 68% of the statewide population.

At the same time, over half (53%) of the surveyed CJS workforce reported strongly or somewhat believing it is better to keep a distance from people who struggle with drugs and/or alcohol.

This was nearly identical to the statewide population (54%).

We need to start unpacking this fear and distancing so people who use drugs do not feel they need to hide.

Read the full report and connect with us here: https://elevyst.com/pccd

Let's make change.

Hard to believe, but we turn 4 today!

We want to thank you all – our colleagues, our collaborators, our community.

Here's to more years of working together toward a healthier future and dignity for all.

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