Michele Staton's Research Passion is Helping Incarcerated Women Address Substance Abuse
Michele Staton grew up in rural Appalachia during a time when people felt so safe they didn’t even lock their doors at night. The ensuing drug epidemic that now ravages her former home has dramatically impacted the lives of the Appalachian people and broken that sense of security.
Staton, an associate professor in the Department of Behavioral Science at the University of Kentucky's College of Medicine, and a faculty associate at the Center on Drug and Alcohol Research, has made it her mission to make a positive difference in the Appalachian area, particularly for women in the criminal justice population who have fallen prey to substance abuse and high-risk behaviors. Her research focuses on intervention before release from jail to empower women to make healthier and safer choices during the transition back to the community.
As a social worker, Staton loves the stories the women tell of their life experiences: real people, real problems, and tough choices. Their stories not only inform her research but also fuel the passion for her work as well. At the Center on Drug and Alcohol Research, Staton-Tindall works with professionals across campus who take a multi-disciplinary approach to widespread problems of substance abuse.
Watch the video as Staton discusses her research and why it is so close to her heart.
More from this series People Behind Our Research The scientists and scholars at the University of Kentucky are remarkable people. Some of them have a very personal connection to field they have chosen: a family member battling addiction or disease. Some of them began their journey based on curiosity. A drive to find out why the world works the way it does. What they all have in common is a passion to ignite progress and partner across fields and with communities to confront, head on, the most profound challenges. Research can do that, and our researchers tell you why and how. Subheading Why do we want you to meet our researchers?
Credits
Produced by Alicia P. Gregory, videography/direction by Chad Rumford and Ben Corwin (Research Communications).