Voices of Hope, Lexington, piloted a community survey in partnership with the Addiction Policy Forum to better understand substance use disorder (SUD) stigma, including attitudes, misconceptions, and policy support related to SUD services. Stigma remains one of the greatest barriers preventing individuals with SUD from seeking treatment and achieving long-term recovery.
A total of 219 individuals responded to the survey administered by Voices of Hope, Lexington, between November 10, 2023, and April 9, 2024. The participants included people who work in community, non-profit, and social services organizations, education, government, healthcare, and more. This survey highlighted key themes in addiction knowledge, discrimination, prejudice, stereotypes, and public health measures.
Key Findings
High Recognition of Addiction as a Health Condition. The majority of respondents view addiction as a disease (95%) rather than a choice.
Strong Support for Public Health Approaches to Addiction. The majority of respondents (98%) supported naloxone availability and increased government spending on addiction treatment (94%). There is strong opposition to housing agencies denying services to people in recovery (96%) and employers firing or not hiring people in recovery (91%).
Positive Perceptions of Medications for Addiction Treatment (MAT). Widespread agreement that MAT is available to treat opioid use disorder (98%) and is effective (94%). Most believe that individuals taking MAT are truly in recovery (86%), and 88% rejected the notion that MAT is merely a substitute for another drug. However, 75% agree that long-term use of MAT is not harmful.
Low Levels of Stereotyping Toward Individuals in Recovery. Only a small percentage of respondents endorsed inaccurate beliefs or negative traits, such as believing people in recovery are to blame for their own problems (12%), are unpredictable (8%), do not make good decisions (6%), and cannot be trusted (2%), and are dangerous (2%).
Minimal Prejudice Toward Individuals in Recovery. The majority of respondents expressed positive emotions when interacting with individuals in recovery, including feeling supportive (98%), compassionate (97%), empathetic (95%), and comfortable (93%). However, 21% of respondents reported feeling anxious and 22% nervous interacting with someone in recovery.
Discrimination is Generally Low but Increases in Personal and Familial Settings. Most respondents were willing to work with (98%), be neighbors with (98%), and introduce friends to (98%) someone in recovery. Hesitation was higher in personal matters, such as willingness to have someone in recovery marry their children (78%), rent a room in their home (59%), and as a caretaker of their children (64%).
High Levels of Addiction Knowledge. Overall, respondents scored an average of 87.5% (or a B grade) on the 56-item knowledge scale, with 50% scoring an A grade, 34% scoring a B grade, 10% scoring a C, 4% scoring a D, and 2% scoring an F grade.