The INTO LIGHT Project exhibition at the Old Capitol Museum provides a unique opportunity for instructors to enrich their coursework through the exploration of art, storytelling, and social issues. This powerful exhibit, which features original portraits and stories of individuals who have lost their lives to drug addiction along data and statistics concerning the issue with both nationwide and Iowa data, invites deep reflection and discussion on topics that resonate across multiple disciplines. We encourage faculty members to integrate a visit to the exhibit into their curriculum, offering students a chance to engage with the material in a meaningful and impactful way.

Suggested Courses and Subjects

• Art & Art History: Exploring the role of visual arts in social change, portraiture, and memorialization.
• Sociology: Examining the societal impacts of drug addiction and public perception of addiction.
• Psychology: Understanding the psychological effects of addiction and the use of art in healing and therapy.
• Public Health: Discussing addiction as a public health issue and strategies for prevention and intervention.
• Criminology: Investigating the legal and criminal justice aspects of drug addiction.
• Communication Studies: Analyzing the power of storytelling and narrative in shaping public discourse.
• Social Work: Considering the role of social workers in supporting individuals and families affected by addiction.
• English & Literature: Studying narrative forms, personal stories, and memoirs related to addiction.
• Nursing: Addressing the care and treatment of patients with addiction, as well as the role of healthcare professionals in supporting recovery.
• Ethics: Delving into the ethical considerations surrounding addiction, stigma, and the portrayal of marginalized groups.
• Education: Fostering discussions on how educators can address sensitive topics like addiction in the classroom.

A Deeper Look

Anthropology 
The study of the human experience, biology, the way we think, evolve and culture. There is a definite culture in the world of addiction not only specific to the individual with addiction, but for those around them, their family, friends; society. Addiction is a systemic occurrence that can be used as a lens through which to view the modern human condition. Questions to ponder on this might be: How does the lived experience of addiction affect morality, law, biology, neurochemistry, agency and free will? How does addiction, and particularly an epidemic of drug related deaths, influence society?

Biochemistry
Very relevant to the study of addiction is biochemistry, as biochemists study the chemical processes of living organisms. What do we know scientifically about addiction? How does addiction affect the brain and therefore the behavior of the individual? Does addiction fit the disease model? Why or why not?

Business, Business Management and Human Resources
Those who seek careers in these concentrations will be managing people, some of which will have a substance use disorder, or be in recovery. According to the CDC 46.3 million people aged 12 or older (or 16.5 percent of the population) met the applicable DSM-5 criteria for having a substance use disorder in the past year, including 29.5 million people who were classified as having an alcohol use disorder and 24 million people who were classified as having a drug use disorder.

Additionally, there is a negative consequence from substance use on the economy and the workforce. About 70% of those with SUD are employed, making the workplace an important setting to address SUDs.

What is the current view from a business management perspective of those with drug addiction? Discuss the responsibilities of those who manage people in regard to employees who are in active addiction or in recovery?

Creative Writing – Storytelling
Why is it important to tell the stories of people in our society past and present? What common denominators do we see in the narratives of the people in the Drug Addiction: Real People, Real Stories exhibition? How can society benefit from your work in creative writing?

Data Science
How does data science intersect with social movements and art activism? What is its importance in the context of ILP?

Development Studies
View the ILP exhibition, look at the similarities across the stories of those who passed from substance us disorder and read the statistics on prevalence and treatment. What are the economic, political, and societal effects of a large subset of the U.S. population having a substance use disorder?

Digital Humanities
What does someone in this academic field need to know about drug addiction to merge social topics with technology and answer existing research questions?

Education
Research shows a link between substance use and levels of educational attainment. Why? Is this true in your experience? Discuss the role of educators in regard to drug use – identifying students at risk, ethical considerations, working with families, mandatory reporting, talking with students about substance use, etc. What do educators need to know about drug addiction? What is their responsibility or contribution in helping to reduce stigma or educating students and others about addiction? What methods might be used to do this in addition to the model and message of INTO LIGHT Project?

Economics
Understanding how current events and conditions shape individuals and impact society. According to the CDC there is a total of $1,021 billion-dollar economic cost of opioid use and fatal opioid overdose cost each year. Over $120 billion in lost productivity occurs in the U.S. due to SUD’s, another $11 billion in health care costs for drug treatment and medical costs and $61 billion in criminal justice costs of investigation, prosecution, incarceration and victim costs.

Discuss how drug use affects business and the economy and examine what be done about it.

English
English is largely about language and communication, reading, writing, and a knowledge of literature and meaning making. Discussion and community also play a part in understanding literature, context, relevance and societal impact.

How does viewing the Drug Addiction: Real People, Real Stories exhibition impact those seeking English majors and their future work? What can people in this major contribute to the research or add to the social discourse about this topic?

Film
The language used about those with SUD’s in films is often very negative – and people with addictions are routinely portrayed as lowlifes, criminals, or troublemakers. Students in film majors could benefit from learning the truth about the lives of those with SUD. Having

examined the questions around drug addiction will influence new generation filmmakers in various ways. A good outcome would be an honest portrayal of those with SUD, using film to educate, to help to dismantle negative stereotypes, and influence the use of anti-stigmatizing language.

Global Literary Studies
Learning about the history of cultures and how we view the world. Gaining education on addiction as a disease, the history, and how people with drug addiction came to be marginalized and villainized would inform those in Global Literary Studies. Using the Drug Addiction: Real People, Real Stories exhibition have discussions about the progression of addiction over the years and about the latest epidemic the U.S. is facing. How will this influence your work?

Hispanic/Latin American/Asian studies
These populations are increasing in drug use and overdose/poisoning deaths, yet a small percentage seek help. There is, traditionally, significant shame and stigma in these populations which prevents many from seeking treatment. What about the culture informs choices about revealing an illness and seeking treatment? Is this changing over time? What can be done to have different outcomes?

Journalism
Journalists are storytellers, seekers of truth and have a code of ethics. They involve themselves in fact finding, interviewing, writing, and editing. All these skills are carried out with journalist integrity. What does it mean as a journalist, or a journalism student, to accurately report on the drug epidemic in the U.S. while not using stigmatizing words or images? Will that help contribute to a healthier society?

Law or Legal studies
Legal studies considers human rights, civil rights, and how culture, politics, and society influence legal decisions and law. The altered brain function of those who are addicted to drugs can lead to decisions that cause harm to those experiencing addiction and to people around them. Is the response for this harm by the judicial system too punitive? Should we focus more on treatment and recovery as opposed to incarceration? How do we balance accountability and responsibility for harm against others with recovery and treatment?

Marketing
What are the ethical responsibilities of those in marketing careers? What values guide the profession? How do we responsibility market certain products such as alcohol or pharmaceuticals? How does honesty, responsibility, fairness, and respect for consumers and society play into marketing such products?

Neuroscience
Neuroscience deals with the structure or function of the nervous system and brain. What can neuroscientists do to help inform the public that drug addiction is a brain disorder? What research opportunities are available to address SUD? After viewing the Drug Addiction: Real People, Real Stories exhibit what comes to mind for those in this major about their future role?

Nursing
Nursing includes the promotion of health, prevention of illness, and the care of physically ill, mentally ill and disabled people in health care settings and in the community. Nurses take a pledge to deliver a high standard of care to everyone. Does that always happen? Are nurses also affected by societal stereotypes that depict those with SUD as drug seeking or are they able to put personal opinions aside and provide the same standard of care to all people? Another question to explore is the personal cost of caring for those with drug addictions or people who have overdosed, been poisoned or died due to involvement with drugs. What are the secondary traumatic stressors, or vicarious trauma that nurses face? Where is the help for health care providers to prevent burnout and to protect mental and physical health outcomes?

The INTO LIGHT Project exhibit opened at the Old Capitol Museum on Saturday, January 25th, to a full audience in the Senate Chamber. The University of Iowa Executive Vice President and Provost gave supportive remarks. Here, is an excerpt:

"As an institution of higher education, we at the University of Iowa recognize in this project powerful opportunities for action that can make a real difference while advancing our core missions of learning, discovery, and engagement. Let me share some examples.

In our efforts to have an even greater positive impact on the students and communities we serve, the university is guided by a strategic plan that lays out our vision and goals. The plan highlights five key priorities: Excellence in Teaching and Learning, Innovative Research and Creative Discovery, a Welcoming and Inclusive Environment, Holistic Well-Being and Success, and Transformative Societal Impact.

The Into Light exhibit touches on every one of those priorities.

In support of our commitment to “Excellence in Teaching and Learning,” we work hard to ensure students have access to high-impact educational opportunities beyond the traditional classroom experience.

Thanks to the efforts of the Pentacrest Museums staff in creating curricular partnerships with instructors, students from across campus will have a unique opportunity to engage with this exhibit.

Faculty members teaching courses in subjects as varied as art, literature, public health, psychology, education, nursing, and so many more will be able to reflect on their areas of study through this powerful lens.

Students might consider the role of the visual and literary arts in creating social change, for example. They might integrate the project into the study of legal, criminal justice, political, or economic aspects of drug addiction. The stories in the exhibit can enrich students’ research into how addiction affects the brain and nervous system, or they might inform students’ understanding of how healthcare professionals and social workers can support individuals who are suffering from addiction.

In combining the latest research on addiction with art and storytelling, the exhibit also highlights the possibilities generated by “Innovative Research and Creative Discovery.”

Some students who visit may be inspired toward a new area of inquiry in their future research. Others may be inspired to create art that furthers the Into Light Project’s mission of education and empathy. Every visitor will leave having experienced the power of an innovative, interdisciplinary approach to a serious challenge.

With its goals to confront the stigma and marginalization experienced by those suffering from addiction, and to promote a more understanding community that respects and supports those individuals in their humanity, the project models the core values that underpin our efforts to promote a “Welcoming and Inclusive Environment” and to foster “Holistic Well-Being and Success.”

Finally, the University of Iowa is committed to having a “Transformative Societal Impact” on our local and regional communities, our state, and the world, through contributions in education, health care, the arts, and more.

The Into Light Project underscores the urgency of the opioid crisis, highlights the crucial need for trained and empathetic health care providers, showcases the power of community involvement in tackling the problem, and advocates for better health care outcomes for those affected by addiction.

In each of these things, it aligns with and complements the university’s work to support the health of Iowans—through initiatives such as the Rural Health Care Partnership, for example, which is focused on reducing rural healthcare disparities in the state. This initiative seeks to enhance health care access through local collaboration; to expand screening, training, and telehealth services related to substance use and mental health; and to help train the next generation of providers who will serve Iowa communities.

Raising awareness about substance use disorders and their impact on Iowans and Iowa communities is crucial to these efforts.

So it’s important to note that the educational impact of the Into Light exhibit is not limited to university students. Museums and galleries invite all visitors to engage in reflection and critical conversation. The Old Capitol Museum’s mission is to serve as a center of civic discourse and to educate the broader public as well as the university community, through programming, outreach, scholarship, and exhibitions.

The Museum and the University of Iowa are proud to partner with the Into Light project in the effort to humanize understanding of the addiction crisis by putting faces, names, and stories at the forefront. I cannot imagine a more effective way to start the conversation, and—we hope—to move us all toward empathy and action."

Expand your classroom with a visit to one of our galleries or collections spaces. Lead your own lecture with a group, encourage your students to visit for credit or to complete an assignment on their own, or develop an experience for your class with our education team; we're here to collaborate and support.

Self-Guided Visit: Schedule an independent, self-paced exploration.

• Instructors often reserve gallery spaces to lead their own lecture, letting our exhibits illustrate their teaching goals & objectives. These spaces include the Museum of Natural History's Iowa Hall, Bird Hall, and Mammal Hall or the Old Capitol Museum.
• Cost: No charge; museum admission is free and educational gallery reservations for instructor-led presentations are free of charge
• Available Galleries: Iowa Hall (MNH), Bird Hall (MNH), Mammal Hall (MNH), Old Capitol Museum
• Reserve the gallery here: https://pentacrestmuseums.uiowa.edu/form/schedule-a-tour

Collaborate with our Education & Engagement Department: Schedule a visit for a class with museum support or make special arrangements

• Contact the Director of the Pentacrest Museums.