The Relationship between Substance Use Stigma and COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Social Science

Background:

• The United States faces concurrent public health crises: the COVID-19 pandemic and increasing substance use disorders (SUDs).
• Limited research has explored the connection between these two significant health issues.
• Understanding factors influencing vaccine hesitancy is crucial for public health strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between public stigma towards individuals with a history of substance use disorders and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy.
• To explore if stigma related to specific substances (opioids, methamphetamine, cocaine, alcohol) predicts vaccine hesitancy.

Main Methods:

• An exploratory study utilizing a national survey of 6,515 U.S. adults.
• Assessed substance use stigma, COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, racial prejudice, and health news sources.
• Employed four multivariable logistic regression models to analyze the relationship between substance use stigma and vaccine hesitancy.

Main Results:

• COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy was significantly associated with higher levels of substance use stigma towards past opioid use (AOR=1.34), methamphetamine use (AOR=1.40), and cocaine use (AOR=1.28).
• No significant association was found between substance use stigma towards alcohol use and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy (AOR=1.06).
• These findings suggest that stigma plays a role in vaccine hesitancy among certain populations.

Conclusions:

• Public stigma towards individuals with a history of opioid, methamphetamine, and cocaine use disorders is a predictor of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy.
• Incorporating substance use stigma into predictive models may enhance the identification of individuals amenable to vaccine hesitancy interventions.
• Further research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms and develop combined interventions addressing both stigma and hesitancy.