‘Beyond Substance’ podcast aims to reduce stigma around substance use disorders

More than 800 people in Marion County died from fatal overdoses in 2022, according to local officials. “Beyond Substance” is a new podcast from the Marion County Public Health Department that aims to shed light on substance use in Indianapolis. 

To learn more about the podcast,  WFYI’s Darian Benson spoke with hosts Dean Babcock, a consultant with the Marion County Public Health Department and Jodi Miller, deputy director of the Indiana Addictions Issues Coalition. 

Addressing substance use disorders like any other illness

Stigma is discussed in each episode, Babcock said, because it is a problem for many with substance use disorder. 

“What happens is it keeps people from getting care in the first place,” Babcock said. “And it serves as a barrier. So everything we can do related to reducing stigmatizing language and stigmatizing behavior and attitudes to kind of bring that down. So we really look at substance use disorder, just like we would any other medical illness.”

Connecting people with resources

People with substance use disorder often feel alone or struggle in silence, Miller said. So she hopes the podcast can help Marion County residents become aware of the resources available to help with substance use disorders. 

“But when they hear other stories about people and the struggles that they have, and how they've overcome those struggles, or how they've just been able to get connected to resources, I think that's really the most important thing is letting people know that, hey, there are lots of resources available, and how you can get connected to those that helps reduce that barrier,” Miller said. 

Previous episodes have featured health care workers, law enforcement and people in recovery from a substance use disorder.

Each “Beyond Substance” episode links to resources such as Indiana’s Recovery Hubs, harm reduction programs and re-entry services. 

New episodes of the podcast are released on the last day of every month. Listeners can find the podcast on the Marion County Public Health Department’s website or on major podcast platforms. 

Contact WFYI health reporter Darian Benson at dbenson@wfyi.org. Follow on Twitter: @helloimdarian.