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Enacted Stigma from Family and Drug Use during Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
Valerie A Earnshaw1, Natalie M Brousseau2, E Carly Hill1
1Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Delaware, 111 Alison Hall West, Newark, DE 19716, USA.
Stigma and Health
|September 2, 2025
Summary
Stigma from family members is linked to increased drug use in individuals undergoing opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment. Addressing family stigma may be crucial for supporting OUD recovery efforts.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Public Health
- Addiction Medicine
Background:
- Enacted stigma, or experiencing discrimination, is linked to continued drug use across various stigmatized groups.
- This association is particularly concerning for individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD), as it can impede treatment success and elevate overdose risks.
- Previous research has not fully explored the source of enacted stigma, though theory suggests family-related stigma may be uniquely detrimental.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether enacted stigma from family members is more strongly associated with drug use compared to stigma from other sources among individuals in OUD treatment.
- To provide empirical evidence on the differential impact of stigma sources on drug use within the OUD population.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative data were collected from 145 individuals undergoing treatment for OUD.
- Participants reported experiences of enacted stigma from 190 distinct individuals.
- Drug use was objectively measured through positive urinalysis test results, and data were analyzed using general linear mixed models.
Main Results:
- Enacted stigma originating from family members showed a stronger association with drug use than enacted stigma from non-family sources.
- This finding was statistically significant among individuals receiving OUD treatment.
Conclusions:
- Family-related enacted stigma appears to be a significant factor associated with continued drug use in individuals undergoing OUD treatment.
- Future research should examine the role of specific relationship types in the stigma-drug use association.
- Interventions targeting family stigma may be essential for enhancing recovery outcomes for people with OUD.
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