“Addiction Is a Disease, Not a Moral Failure”Advocates Like Carrie Stambaugh Are Fighting to Erase the Stigma

“Addiction Is a Disease, Not a Moral Failure”

Advocates Like Carrie Stambaugh

Are Fighting to Erase the Stigma

Sasha Bush

The Ashland Beacon

In the heart of Eastern Kentucky, where the impact of the opioid crisis is deeply felt, individuals like Carrie K. Stambaugh are dedicating their lives to changing the narrative around addiction. As a Staff Attorney at Legal Aid of the Bluegrass (LABG) and an Equal Justice Works Fellow for the Opioid Crisis Response (OCR) program, Stambaugh is part of a powerful movement to provide compassionate, effective legal support to those in recovery.

“I am a staff attorney at LABG and an Equal Justice Works Fellow in the Opioid Crisis Response program. EJW OCR fellows are a cohort of attorneys at legal aids, four in KY (at 3 of the legal aids). Courtney Brothers and I are EJW Fellows at LABG. There is also a fellow in Ohio and one in NY. Our fellowships are two years,” Stambaugh explained.

Her work is part of a broader, statewide initiative known as Project Renew, a collaboration aimed at providing civil legal services that support individuals in recovery from substance use disorders. In Kentucky, the four EJW fellows—including Stambaugh—are central to this mission, helping clients navigate barriers that might otherwise hinder their path to healing.

“In the state of Kentucky, the four fellows are supporting Project Renew, a state-wide collaboration to provide civil legal services that directly support clients in recovery from substance use disorders,” said Stambaugh. “At LABG, EJW fellows are also working to set up a Medical Legal Partnership with a medical provider within our service area. The goal is to meet clients where they are and assist in the efforts to treat the ‘whole person’ in recovery through holistic support and services.”

This holistic approach means that legal assistance is just one part of the equation. EJW Fellows also play an active role in outreach and education at recovery centers, and they work to build strategic partnerships with community leaders and other stakeholders. It’s all part of a larger vision: treating addiction not as a personal failing, but as the medical condition that it truly is.

Stambaugh’s belief in this mission is unwavering. “Addiction is a disease. It is not a moral or a personal failure. We have to do better as a society in recognizing that and removing the stigma that prevents people from getting the help and support, they need to get treatment and recover.”

Her passion is not only professional—it’s personal. “It's a privilege to support my neighbors who are working so hard to change their lives to become healthier, happier people. I am grateful to be able to help my community heal from this crisis and build resilience for the future,” she said. “There isn't a family in eastern Kentucky that has not been touched by the opioid crisis. There are people in my own life, whom I love dearly, who have battled addiction and are now in recovery.”

One of the most impactful tools in her legal toolbox is expungement—a process that can clear a person’s criminal record. While the legal effects are significant, the emotional and psychological relief it offers can be just as powerful.

“Getting an expungement removes a barrier to getting a better job, or housing, but its real power is the lifting of the psychological burden that comes with having a criminal record,” stated Stambaugh.

If you or someone you know are in need of services you can reach out to Legal Aid of the Bluegrass on their website www.lablaw.org. You can also call their intake phone number at 859.431.8200 to apply for assistance Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. and Friday’s  10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Please note that all calls are answered in the order that they are received.

Carrie Stambaugh’s work stands as a reminder that recovery is possible, and that healing must include compassion, support, and justice. By addressing legal barriers, creating community partnerships, and challenging harmful stigmas, she and other EJW Fellows are helping to build a more equitable and understanding society—one where addiction is seen not as a shameful secret, but as a disease that deserves treatment, empathy, and hope. Because behind every person battling addiction is a human being—someone’s child, sibling, parent, or friend—who is fighting for a second chance at life. And thanks to advocates like Stambaugh, that chance is no longer just a distant dream, but a growing reality rooted in dignity, healing, and unwavering belief in the power of redemption.