Does a Personal Relationship with Someone in Recovery Influence Stigma?

Area of Science:

• Social Science
• Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• Substance use disorders (SUD) affect millions globally, causing substantial social, health, and economic burdens.
• Persistent stigma, often framing SUD as a moral failing, impedes access to effective treatment and support.
• Understanding factors influencing stigma is crucial for developing targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess stigma levels related to SUD within Saint Joseph's University (SJU).
• To investigate the impact of personal connections on attitudes, behaviors, and perceptions toward individuals with SUD.
• To identify potential correlations between personal experience and stigma reduction.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional anonymous email survey was administered to SJU faculty and students.
• The survey included demographic, stigma, and scenario-based questions.
• Respondents were categorized based on personal connections to SUD, and data were analyzed using unpaired t-tests (p < 0.05).

Main Results:

• Usable responses were obtained from 253 participants, with 235 indicating personal connections to SUD.
• Individuals with personal connections exhibited significantly lower stigma levels.
• These individuals showed greater willingness to interact with those misusing substances or in recovery, with statistically significant differences observed for alcohol, opioids, and recovery interactions.

Conclusions:

• Personal relationships with individuals experiencing SUD demonstrably reduce stigma.
• Such connections foster more empathetic and supportive attitudes, challenging moralistic views.
• Findings suggest that promoting personal connections can be a strategy to combat SUD stigma.