11:00 am – 12:15 pm – Substance Use Coercion: Pattern, Impact, and Survivor-Led Strategies
Gabriela Zapata-Alma, LCSW, CADC, (they, them) is the Associate Director of the National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma, and Mental Health, as well as faculty at the University of Chicago, where they direct the Advanced Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor Training Program within the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice. Gabriela brings over 15 years of experience supporting people impacted by structural and interpersonal violence through innovative and evidence-based clinical, housing, resource advocacy, peer-led, harm reduction, and HIV-integrated care programs. As a person with lived experience of violence and trauma, they center survivor-driven solutions, non-pathologizing approaches, and intergenerational healing in all of their work. They have been recognized with numerous awards, including Health & Medicine Policy Research Group’s Health Award for their trauma-informed anti-oppression work with marginalized communities; and the Rising Star Award from the Illinois chapter of the National Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC) recognizing their leadership in trauma-informed and harm reduction-based substance use disorder care. Currently, Gabriela authors best practices, leads national capacity-building efforts, and provides trauma-informed policy consultation to advance health equity and social justice.