Does a Personal Relationship with Someone in Recovery Influence Stigma?

Substance use disorders (SUD) impact millions globally, leading to significant social, health, and economic consequences. Despite these impacts, stigma persists, often viewing SUD as a moral failure, limiting access to proper care. This study aimed to evaluate stigma levels within Saint Joseph's University (SJU) and determine if personal connections with individuals experiencing SUD influence behavior, attitudes, and perceptions.

This cross-sectional study surveyed faculty and students using an anonymous email survey approved by the institutional review board. The survey was sent to 3,050 individuals. It included demographic, stigma, and scenario-based questions about attitudes toward those with SUD. Respondents were grouped based on personal connections to SUD. Unpaired t-tests were used for data analysis, with a significance threshold of p < 0.05.

Of the 362 respondents, there were 253 usable responses, with 235 indicating they either did (n = 72) or did not (n = 163) have a personal connection with someone suffering from SUD. Those with connections presented with lower stigma levels and a greater willingness to interact with individuals actively misusing substances or in recovery. They were more likely to live near someone misusing alcohol (p = 0.001) or opioids (p = 0.015), work with active users (p = 0.025) and interact with individuals in recovery (p < 0.002).

Based on the study, personal relationships with individuals experiencing SUD significantly reduce stigma, promoting more supportive and empathetic attitudes.