Public Views About Opioid Overdose and People With Opioid Use Disorder.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Sociology
• Political Science

Background:

• Opioid overdose deaths in the US saw a decline in 2024, coinciding with a new federal administration.
• Understanding public opinion on opioid overdose and addiction is crucial for informing future public health strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine US adults' views on opioid overdose and individuals with opioid addiction in 2025.
• To analyze how these views differ across conservative, moderate, and liberal political ideologies.

Main Methods:

• A web-based survey was conducted with a national sample of non-Hispanic or Hispanic Black and non-Hispanic White adults in April 2025.
• Respondents rated the seriousness of opioid overdose deaths, assigned responsibility for reducing deaths, and indicated social distance attitudes towards individuals with opioid addiction.

Main Results:

• A significant majority of US adults (88.2%) considered opioid overdose deaths serious, with higher agreement among liberals (93.4%) compared to conservatives (83.4%).
• People who use opioids (81.0%) and pharmaceutical companies (72.7%) were perceived as most responsible for reducing overdose deaths.
• Conservatives exhibited greater social distance (unwillingness to have as neighbor or marry into family) towards individuals with opioid addiction compared to moderates and liberals.

Conclusions:

• US adults perceive opioid overdose as a serious problem.
• Divergent views on responsibility for overdose reduction among different political groups suggest varied preferences for future interventions.
• Findings highlight the need for tailored approaches to address opioid addiction and overdose, considering ideological differences in public perception.