Topics included an overview of addiction and treatment options in the United States, the role of naloxone in the fight against overdoses, and the dramatic rise in problem gambling.
Recently, Administration and Finance’s (A&F) Public & Occupational Health unit and the Employee and Organizational Success Office hosted the event "Real Talk: Understanding Addiction."
The event featured five speakers who each shared a different element of addiction during the 90-minute discussion. Topics for the day included an overview of addiction and treatment options in the United States, the role of naloxone in the fight against overdoses, and the dramatic rise in problem gambling.
The first two speakers were both from the School of Social Work: LaTavia Little, LCSW-C, clinical assistant professor, and Patricia Quinn-Stabile, LCSW-C, clinical instructor.
Little began by differentiating the levels of substance use, defining what constitutes addiction and how drugs impact the reward system of the brain. She explained how the stigma of addiction can create barriers to individuals getting the help they need. This can unwittingly perpetuate a sense of shame or depression, leading to higher relapse rates.
Little said, “Language is not just a form of communication — it’s a tool of empowerment, dignity, and connection.” She concluded by emphasizing that the most respectful way to refer to people is as people, and not just a label or stereotype.
Quinn-Stabile continued the conversation, focusing on the recovery side of addiction. She shared that 31.7 million adults age 18 or older perceived that they had a problem with their use of alcohol or drugs, but also that among these adults, almost 75 percent, or 23.5 million people, consider themselves to be “in recovery or to have recovered.”
Quinn-Stabile covered the different types of treatment that a patient may receive, and what can happen when people go into treatment. She focused the rest of her speech on how, and why, medication can be an important part of the recovery process.
She pointed out that both a lack of education and stigma about medication can lead to discouraging someone from seeking medications that can effectively be used to stabilize a person’s substance-related condition.
Methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone were listed as some of the most important drugs at the disposal of health care professionals and those seeking treatment for addictions. She concluded her talk by highlighting many of the biases and underlying assumptions that can undermine the evidence-based use of medications in treating addiction.
Naloxone Access
The next speaker, Marianne Cloeren, MD, MPH, associate professor, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM), has been at the forefront of expanding naloxone access and educating the public on the value of this lifesaving drug.
According to Cloeren, in the 12 months from September 2024 to August 2025, the state of Maryland experienced 1,338 overdose deaths, with over 550 of those concentrated in Baltimore City. The vast majority of these deaths came from opiates like heroin and morphine, and opioids, which are synthetic opiates like oxycontin and fentanyl. However, in naloxone, she said, all individuals have access to a drug that can reverse an overdose as it’s occurring.
Cloeren stressed the safety of naloxone, citing negligible side effects, safety for use on all persons (including pregnant women and children), and how the drug has no potential for misuse. She taught the attendees how to spot an overdose, how to safely administer the drug, and shared her own anecdote on attempting to revive a person who was not overdosing. She concluded the presentation by informing the attendees how they could get naloxone from their local pharmacy. Free naloxone was also provided in the mini-resource fair in the lobby.
The final segment of the day shifted from substance use to the rising rate of gambling disorders in the state of Maryland. Heather Eshleman, MPH, director of operations at the Maryland Center for Excellence on Problem Gambling, UMSOM, spoke first.
Eshleman said more than 5 percent of Maryland residents have developed a gambling addiction. With the rise of online and mobile gaming, she shared how the financial devastation could quickly add up. She offered attendees strategies on how to approach a friend, loved one, or colleague about their gambling.
The final speaker was Kenneth “Kenny” Crawford, CPRS, CRC, a certified peer recovery specialist with the Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling. Crawford is also a former addict who experienced both substance use disorder and disordered gambling.
A Dundalk native, Crawford shared his life story, including how his promising athletic and collegiate career got derailed by addiction to drugs and alcohol. After overcoming his substance use disorders, Crawford developed an addiction to gambling in its many forms.
After sharing some of his deeply personal life events, he shifted the focus to the many resources that are now available to help those who are struggling with their gambling. In addition to suggesting 1-800-GAMBLER and gamblersanonymous.org, he mentioned apps such as Gamban and BetBlocker that people can use to block gambling websites from their mobile devices. He finished by imploring anyone who may be in crisis or considering self-harm to call 988.
If you or someone you love is in crisis or suffering from addiction, they can get support by calling 988 for 24/7, confidential support via call, text, or chat for mental health and substance use crises. Maryland residents can call 211 or text MDHope to 898211 for local opioid resources, naloxone, and treatment referrals. As always, the doors of the A&F Success Office — located on the 14th floor in the Saratoga Building — are always open for personalized support, guidance, and resource guidance.
If you’ve got an A&F event, occurrence, or story you would like to share with the UMB community, please reach out to the A&F communications department by emailing Dan Reed.