Research has shown that using stigmatizing language and imagery related to people who use drugs perpetuates harmful stereotypes and health barriers among this already vulnerable population. Finding realistic, high-quality images to support our information dissemination work is a constant struggle, as many asset collections, including fee-based stock photo sites, largely contain dehumanizing and/or factually incorrect graphics on this topic.
Join us on December 17, 2025 from 9-10am PT to hear from Meg Brunner, MLIS, and Erinn McGraw, BFA (both of the University of Washington’s Addictions, Drug & Alcohol Institute), who will share research about the impact of harmful images and language on stigma and related health barriers for people who use drugs and provide guidance on where to find and how to select accurate, non-stigmatizing information and images to use in your work.
They’ll also introduce you to their new resource, Empathy Lens, funded by a grant from the Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM), which features hundreds of free, accurate, compassionate, and non-stigmatizing images intended for health and service organizations to use in outreach and educational efforts!