Stigma Associated with Opioid Use Disorders in Adolescents Limits Naloxone Prescribing

Parse's theory of humanbecoming describes shame as a sense that one is failing to conform to both personal and societal expectations of high value. Shame and stigma, negative perceptions others hold of an individual based on failure to conform to societal expectations, that surround opioid use disorders are linked to patients not seeking medical treatment due to the social isolation and humiliation brought on by the disease.

This article reviews the resistance of some health care providers to discuss the realities of substance abuse with adolescent patients and their families, and identifies how the stigma that some health care providers place on opioid use disorders makes them less likely to discuss and prescribe naloxone, the reversal agent for opioids. When families are prepared to prevent overdose deaths by administering naloxone, lives can be saved, and time can be preserved for developing long-term treatment options.

Research should develop curricula that teach how to identify unconscious bias that may exist on the part of the healthcare provider, and to understand the negative effects of stigmatizing opioid use. Bedside nurses and practitioners should be equipped to educate patients and their families about naloxone and its availability, and to explain that it is a safe and effective way to prevent opioid related deaths. When presented in a nonjudgmental way, information about naloxone is a critical component in addressing the opioid epidemic, preventing deaths and providing time for further treatment options.