enCompass: evaluation of a community-based substance use disorder stigma intervention

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Addiction Medicine
• Community Interventions

Background:

• Community stigma surrounding substance use disorder (SUD) presents a significant barrier to treatment access and engagement.
• Existing interventions often lack a community-based approach to address both knowledge gaps and stigma.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of enCompass, a community-based intervention designed to increase SUD knowledge and reduce stigma.
• To assess the implementation outcomes (acceptability, appropriateness, feasibility) of the enCompass intervention.

Main Methods:

• A proof-of-concept study involving 492 participants across 22 Ohio counties.
• Pre- and post-intervention surveys measured SUD treatment knowledge, medication knowledge, and SUD-related stigma (stereotypes, prejudice, discrimination).
• Implementation outcomes were assessed post-intervention.

Main Results:

• Participant knowledge of SUD treatment and medication significantly increased following the enCompass intervention.
• Participant-reported SUD stigma significantly decreased from pre- to post-intervention.
• The intervention demonstrated high levels of acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility among participants.

Conclusions:

• The enCompass intervention shows promise as an effective community-based strategy for improving SUD knowledge and reducing stigma.
• Further research with longitudinal and randomized designs is warranted to confirm these preliminary findings.
• Community-based SUD interventions are crucial for overcoming stigma and improving treatment outcomes.