Opioid Use Disorder Stigma Reduction Through Story Telling Narrative and Sharing: a Qualitative Review and Lessons Learned

Stigma towards substance use continues to exacerbate the opioid crisis and its detrimental effects, claiming tens of thousands of lives each year. Reducing substance use stigma through evidence-based techniques is crucial to overcoming and eliminating stigma’s imposed barriers. This study, conducted in the USA, employed semi-structured interview transcripts of 32 adults with lived experience of opioid use disorder (OUD), professionals, and family members were analyzed using an inductive thematic approach to identify overarching themes for OUD stigma reduction strategies. Utilizing this lived-experience framework revealed methods to address stigma through interpersonal communication and social interactions. Specifically, using less stigmatizing language, addressing perceptions of persons who experience OUD, employing open communication about OUD to change narratives and beliefs through incorporating messages of hope and recovery, and replacing stigma with empathy and compassion to support recovery. Utilizing individuals with lived experience of OUD offered first-hand insight to identify potential solutions, advance existing literature, and ultimately combat the opioid crisis.