"Let's Talk Stigma": A Pharmacy-Based Program for Opioid Use Disorder Anti-Stigma Education in Pennsylvania

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Education
• Social Determinants of Health

Background:

• Opioid overdoses are a major public health crisis in the U.S.
• Opioid use disorder (OUD) is heavily stigmatized, worsening health outcomes.
• Reducing healthcare stigma, particularly in pharmacies, is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate the "Let's Talk Stigma" program.
• To decrease OUD-related stigma among pharmacists, technicians, and students.
• To promote stigma reduction in pharmacy practice settings.

Main Methods:

• Collaborative development involving pharmacy schools, health departments, and individuals with lived experience.
• Multi-component program: podcast, continuing education, curriculum integration, technician training, pharmacy outreach, and chain pharmacy partnerships.
• Mixed-methods evaluation using surveys, interviews, podcast analytics, and attendance data.

Main Results:

• The podcast reached nearly 22,000 listeners globally; local sessions engaged over 5,000 participants.
• Student pharmacists integrated stigma-reduction activities into Doctor of Pharmacy curricula and local pharmacies.
• Participants reported enhanced stigma awareness, improved attitudes, and increased professional commitment to stigma reduction.

Conclusions:

• The program successfully reduced OUD stigma through strategic partnerships and inclusive design.
• Flexible delivery methods and the inclusion of lived experience were key to program success.
• The initiative demonstrated a scalable model for combating stigma in pharmacy and allied health professions.