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On this week's episode, Jeff speaks with Debra Gonsher Vinik, PhD. Dr. Gonsher Vinik is a film producer, writer and director who founded Diva Communications in 1985. She has produced and written 21 documentaries, including six Emmy winners. Dr. Gonsher Vinik’s newest feature film, Attention Must Be Paid: Women Lost in the Opioid Crisis is a call-to-action for more women-specific addiction treatment and recovery services nationwide. The film will air on ABC stations in May and September 2023 as a two part series. Afterward, an hour-long version will air on PBS. Dr. Gonsher Vinik has worked on this documentary for over 4 years, during which she's come to believe that the stigma associated with women suffering from any kind of substance use disorder (SUD) is far greater than for men. Recently interviewed, she said: “With men, it’s “Oh, that’s just Uncle Joey — too much (drinking, drugging, whatever) again. You know him.” But with a woman — and God forbid a MOTHER — well, then all bets are off. They are viewed as irredeemable.” She is appalled by the gender disparities in health care, citing, among others, the mere fact that opioid medications were not initially clinically tested on women. Additionally, she found that only 1% of healthcare research and innovation is invested in female-specific conditions other than oncology. In addition to her documentary work with Diva, Dr. Gonsher Vinik also runs the website Mincha Moment: Taking Time to Be Grateful which is devoted to the daily practice of gratitude via short web videos and a very intermittent blog.

Follow Dr. Gonsher Vinik

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-gonsher-vinik-6b8a477/

Attention Must Be Paid website: https://divacommunications.com/attention/

Mincha Moment: http://www.minchamoment.com/