The Addictions, Drug, and Alcohol Institute (ADAI) is excited to introduce Empathy Lens, a new photo collection providing images related to drug and alcohol use, prevention, treatment, recovery, and harm reduction. This free resource, created by Meg Brunner, MLIS and Erinn McGraw, BFA, aims to reduce stigma against people who use drugs by promoting the use of realistic, respectful images in education, media, and other information outreach.

Pictures are powerful! They shape how we think and feel, sometimes without us realizing it. Research shows that stigmatizing images of people who use drugs reinforce harmful stereotypes that can worsen health inequities.

Finding realistic, high-quality images can be tough. A lot of the photos available on commercial stock photo sites are dehumanizing and/or factually incorrect. That’s where Empathy Lens comes in! The collection features a set of real-world, positive photos anyone can use for free. On the Empathy Lens website, you can search photos by keyword or category, learn about stigma, get tips on how to select good images, and find links to other free collections and resources.

Photos include syringe services program and harm reduction interactions, safer use supplies, mobile clinics, drug checking services, community health services, recovery supports, provider/patient interactions, and more. Browse the collection and join Meg and Erinn for a webinar on May 22, 2025  from 12-1 PM to hear more about the impact of stigma on people who use drugs and how the Empathy Lens collection can help!

Learn more: For additional information about stigma related to mental health and substance abuse, watch PBSCI’s April 11 Grand Rounds presentation with Mark Rapaport, MD. In it, he talks about the Stop Stigma Together campaign and his work with the Ad Council.