Dr. Ellen Eaton: Bridging Infectious Diseases and Addiction Recovery
When you just give them space to tell their stories, you realize they're survivors.
Dr. Ellen Eaton, an infectious disease physician with UAB Medicine, dives into the intricate relationship between substance use disorders and infectious diseases in this compelling episode of APC Recovery Cafe. She shares her journey of working with patients who face not just addiction but also the stigma surrounding it. Dr. Eaton reveals how listening to patients' stories has shaped her career and reinforced her commitment to this crucial work.
She passionately discusses the importance of normalizing medication in addiction treatment and highlights the systemic challenges her patients encounter, emphasizing that it's often the systems, not the drugs, that fail them. Dr. Eaton collaborates with various community organizations, including the Recovery Resource Center and Jefferson County Department of Public Health, to educate staff and provide resources for at-risk populations.
She has been instrumental in organizing innovative pop-up events that offer Narcan and other resources, aiming to normalize substance use and provide much-needed support to those in need. Dr. Eaton is also proud of her role on an advisory board that brings together partners from different sectors, such as the recovery community in Birmingham and AIDS Alabama, to create impactful resource fairs and outreach initiatives.
This episode offers a blend of personal anecdotes and broader insights, making it a must-listen for anyone interested in understanding the complex interplay between addiction and infectious diseases. Dr. Eaton's dedication to breaking down stigma and improving systems of care is both inspiring and informative, providing listeners with valuable perspectives on harm reduction and the future of addiction treatment.