A new research study on communicating about opioids in Appalachia has published shocking results: stigma is the driving force that keeps people who use drugs from seeking help.
I’m kidding. Anyone who has worked with people who use drugs already knows that stigma plays a pivotal role in why drug use can flourish under the radar, why so many people have difficulty seeking help, and why communities and policy makers often kick the can over to law enforcement instead of investing in evidence-based treatment and prevention programs.
But what this new report does bring to the table is a set of practical ideas for how to reduce stigma against opioid users through targeted communication strategies. For the study, Communicating About Opioids in Appalachia: Challenges, Opportunities and Best Practices, lead author Jennifer Reynolds and other researchers gathered the information through a series of interviews with subject matter experts in the Appalachia region, as well as through focus groups with people impacted by drug use in Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia.
[For more on this story by Tessie Castillo, go to https://www.thefix.com/opioid-use-appalachia-how-reduce-stigma-so-people-seek-help]
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