In this 60-minute presentation, we talk about what stigma is and specifically how stigma affects individuals diagnosed with substance use disorder. We discuss the language we use when working with individuals with substance use disorder and what we as individuals can do in our work and daily lives to address that stigma and improve outcomes for individuals with substance use disorder.

About the Presenter

Deborah Tomey is a Prevention & Recovery Specialist with the Center for Alcohol & Drug Services (CADS) in Davenport. She is also the Prevention Coordinator for the Iowa State Opioid Response (SOR) Grant in Scott & Muscatine Counties. She was the Minnesota Adult & Teen Challenge – State Liaison, Wilmington Coalition – Grant Director under a Drug Fee Community Grant, and the Rock Island County Council on Addiction – Prevention Supervisor.

Deborah brings a rare and powerful combination of professional expertise and lived experience—she’s been in recovery herself for over 28 years. This personal journey deeply informs her work, making her trainings resonate profoundly with participants. Whether addressing prevention strategies or treatment approaches, Deborah weaves relatable real-life insights into every session.

Deborah creates relatable, memorable trainings by sharing authentic, lived experiences, leverages her experience across prevention, treatment, and recovery, and focuses on empathetic, evidence-based strategies tailored to diverse audiences.

With nearly three decades of personal recovery and a wealth of professional experience, Deborah offers uniquely valuable—and deeply human—perspectives on addiction. Her sessions aren’t just informative—they’re inspiring and transformative.

About the SOR Project

Iowa's State Opioid Response (SOR) project aims to address the opioid crisis by increasing access to medications for addiction treatment, reducing unmet treatment needs, and reducing opioid overdose-related deaths through prevention, treatment, and recovery activities for opioid use disorder.