The Needle and the Narrative

Marc Burrows
  • 4.6 (10)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Biweekly

The Needle and the Narrative is produced by Challenges Inc SC; a non profit, drug user health and harm reduction service provider in South Carolina. Interests include drug policy, infectious disease, HIV, HCV, harm reduction, substance use treatment, and drug user activisim. We use stories from lived experience to influence systemic change. Challenging minds; changing hearts. To support our work by becoming a subscription member, visit: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-needle-and-the-narrative--1518412/support www.challengesinc.org

  1. 1d ago

    Midlands Harm Reductionist Amber Fraizer

    Today, we sit down with Amber Frazier, CPSS. Amber is a Certified Peer Support Specialist and Harm Reductionist with 5+ years of experience advancing culturally responsive, evidence‑based public health initiatives across South Carolina. She serves as the Outreach Coordinator for The Courage Center, leading harm reduction outreach and community engagement across the region. She also provides statewide education through the South Carolina Center of Excellence in Addiction. A human rights activist and Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) advocate grounded in lived experience with methadone; she brings a strong commitment to equity and community‑driven public health. She is also the state wide naloxone coordinator for SC indigenous communities.  This podcast was made possible by support from the Counter Narrative Project. CNP is a narrative change organization that stands in the tradition of Bayard Rustin, James Baldwin, Essex Hemphill, and other movement leaders, artists, organizers, and visionaries committed to countering narratives and speaking truth to power. Learn more at https://thecounternarrative.org/ Learn more about safer smoking supplies at www.smokeworks.org  Learn more about harm reduction in South Carolina at www.challengesinc.org  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-needle-and-the-narrative--1518412/support.

  2. 4d ago

    Wynston King of His Own Story

    Today we sat down with Wynston; a local queer trans man from upstate South Carolina. We dive into his life experience with HIV, harm reduction, and drag to learn more about these communities.  This episode was supported by the Counter Narrative Project.  CNP is a narrative change organization that stands in the tradition of Bayard Rustin, James Baldwin, Essex Hemphill, and other movement leaders, artists, organizers, and visionaries committed to countering narratives and speaking truth to power. https://thecounternarrative.org/ To learn more about Harm Reduction in South Carolina visit. www.challengesinc.org Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-needle-and-the-narrative--1518412/support.

  3. Jul 9

    Shae from Syringe Service Mail Program

    Shae Dalrymple is a harm reduction activist and writer with extensive lived experience and a passion for human rights, especially bodily autonomy. She graduated from Ohio University with a bachelor's of science in journalism in 2012 and spent several years working as a reporter, writer, and editor at newspapers covering Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina. After witnessing too many of her friends die from accidental overdoses, Shae decided to pursue a career in harm reduction. In 2019 she joined Harm Reduction Ohio as Communications Director and Distribution Manager, where she helped establish a free, statewide mail order naloxone program. In 2024, she returned to SC and started working with Challenges Inc to revamp its harm reduction mail service, which has grown steadily since, providing life-saving sterile supplies, test strips, naloxone, and harm reduction resources; free of judgement and barriers. Shae is proud of her Appalachian, Rust Belt roots, but she adores South Carolina (especially the Lowcountry) and is grateful to be of service here. In her free time, she enjoys the beach, concerts, and watching her partner win at dirt track late model races.  Shae is the Community Distribution Specialist who runs the Syringe Service Mail Program (SSMP) for Challenges Inc SC. She works remotely out of the Shae Shed in the Lowcountry of South Carolina and we are thrilled to get her up to Challenges Inc headquarters for this episode.  To learn more about our work visit www.challengesinc.org For Challenges Inc SC merch visit https://challengesinc.org/shop Thank you to The Counter Narrative Project for making this podcast possible. Visit https://thecounternarrative.org/ to learn more about their work.  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-needle-and-the-narrative--1518412/support.

  4. Jun 29

    Appalachian SSP Retreat

    In today's The Needle and the Narrative epiosode Marc and Kris sit down for a Appalachian gathering debrief to talk about the first annual Central Appalachian Harm Reduction Cohort, organized by Virginia Harm Reduction Coalition. This was a great gathering of grassroots syringe service programs operating in and around Appalachia.  Kris also announces Jessica's Walk for Overdose Awareness: details on social media; and talks about bears.  To learn more about harm reduction in South Carolina visit www.challengesinc.org  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-needle-and-the-narrative--1518412/support.

  5. Jun 18

    Harm Reductionist Tina Kasson

    In this episode of the Needle and the Narrative we sit down with Challenges Inc SC staff, Tina Kasson. Tina is a Harm Reduction Specialist who is passionate about changing the conversation around drug use. She draws on her educational background in social work and lived experience to replace judgment with genuine human connection. Tina’s work is rooted in the belief that safety and bodily autonomy are basic human rights. Having experienced stigma from the very systems meant to offer support, she knows firsthand that the war on drugs is often fought through isolation and shame. Tina is dedicated to breaking down these barriers by embracing radical acceptance in the face of punitive measures. She is all about creating a safe environment where people can reclaim their inherent value and make informed decisions about their health.  This podcast is supported by the Counter Narrative Project. https://thecounternarrative.org/ NEW Challenges Inc SC MERCH! https://www.bonfire.com/store/challenges-inc-sc/ For safer smoking supplies visit www.smokeworks.org To learn more about harm reduction in South Carolina visit www.challengesinc.org Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-needle-and-the-narrative--1518412/support.

  6. Apr 30

    Harm Reductionist Kris Stepp

    On this episode of The Needle and The Narrative, Marc and Raymond sit down with Challenges Inc SC program manager Kris Stepp. Kris has been around the Challenges Inc ethos for several years and has helped it grow to what it is today. We are grateful to have him back on the team and providing drug user health in South Carollina.  Visit www.challengesinc.org to learn more about harm reduction in South Carolina.  Visit www.smokeworks.org for safer smoking supplies.  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-needle-and-the-narrative--1518412/support.

  7. Mar 30

    Harm Reductionist Lysandra Ryan

    On this episode, we highight Challenges Inc SC staff Lysandra Ryan. Lysandra has a wealth of lived experince and Harm Reduction work. We sit down to learn more about her as a person and what keeps her showing up every day. To learn more about harm reduction work in South Carolina visit www.challengesinc.org  To learn more about the MAP program for safer smoking supplies visit www.smokeworks.org Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-needle-and-the-narrative--1518412/support.

  8. Mar 26

    Dr. Quang Pham

    This is a segment from an old converstation with local clinic physician Dr. Quang Pham in 2023. Dr. Pham was willing to create a fast track for clients coming from our SSP to his clinic for primary care, addiction medicine, and HCV treatment and did so outside of the usual systemic confines that regulate medicine and community partnerships. Dr. Pham has since moved away from the area but his presence here is missed. In this sit down we discuss MAT/ MOUD, what makes treatment low barrier, and other restrictive practices that often put provider liability over patient well-being.  Learn more about the harm reduction work Challenges Inc SC is doing in South Carolina at www.challengesinc.org.  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-needle-and-the-narrative--1518412/support.

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4.6
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About

The Needle and the Narrative is produced by Challenges Inc SC; a non profit, drug user health and harm reduction service provider in South Carolina. Interests include drug policy, infectious disease, HIV, HCV, harm reduction, substance use treatment, and drug user activisim. We use stories from lived experience to influence systemic change. Challenging minds; changing hearts. To support our work by becoming a subscription member, visit: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-needle-and-the-narrative--1518412/support www.challengesinc.org

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