A recent study published in the Journal of Addictive Diseases shows that individuals who participated in Addiction Policy Forum’s enCompass program saw decreased addiction stigma, and improved knowledge about substance use disorders after receiving the intervention.
The enCompass intervention was developed by Addiction Policy Forum to increase knowledge about substance use disorders, correct misconceptions, improve helping behaviors and reduce stigma. Components of the intervention include:
Stigma reduction methods include tools and strategies identified by leading stigma researchers and summarized by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
Knowledge building components of enCompass include addiction basics, treatment, and recovery delivered via an 8-hour program through brief lectures, animated explainer videos, and video segments from leading neuroscientists, addiction psychiatrists, and emergency medicine physicians.
Misconception corrections embedded throughout the curriculum address common misconceptions about SUD and recovery and use best practices for correcting myths and misinformation.
Skills building is integrated into the curriculum and practiced to reduce potential for discrimination. For example, family members and concerned significant others practice communication skills appropriate for someone with SUD.
The research, led by Dr. Valerie A. Earnshaw from the University of Delaware, evaluated the impact of the enCompass intervention on community members' attitudes towards individuals with SUD. The pilot evaluation (n=492) suggests that the intervention increases knowledge, corrects misconceptions, and reduces stigma among loved ones of people with SUDs.
Support from loved ones is associated with better treatment-related outcomes for individuals substance use disorders (SUDs), yet misconceptions about addiction, low literacy in understanding SUD treatment and recovery, and stigma towards those struggling is common.
“The study data show that participants had lower stigma, including stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination intent, after completing the enCompass program,” says Dr. Valerie Earnshaw, Associate Professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences at the University of Delaware. “Reducing stigma and improving knowledge among communities, not just among people experiencing addiction, is critically important as individuals who experience stigma due to addiction are more likely to continue engaging in substance use, delay treatment access, and more likely to discontinue care.”
For more detailed information, refer to the full study: enCompass: evaluation of a community-based substance use disorder stigma intervention.