Preference for Abstinence-Based Recovery and Public Stigma Toward Substance Use

The present study drew from an AmeriSpeak^® national survey (n = 6,515) to examine public stigma toward different substances and the relationship between preferences for abstinence-based recovery and stigma toward each substance. It also explored whether perceived dangerousness of substances moderates the relationship between preferences for abstinence-based recovery and public stigma.

The results indicate that the general public has greater stigmatizing attitudes toward methamphetamine use disorder than it does toward cocaine use disorder, opioid use disorder, and alcohol use disorder. Furthermore, a preference for abstinence-based recovery was associated with greater stigmatizing attitudes toward all SUDs. The perceived dangerousness of a substance did not moderate the relationship between preference for abstinence-based recovery and stigmatizing attitudes toward SUDs.

Results have implications for creating public stigma interventions for the general public, which can be adapted for abstinence-based settings.