Category: Addictive Behaviors
Kristen S. Regenauer, MS
Doctoral Student
University of Maryland
College Park, Maryland
Jessica F. Magidson, PhD
Assistant Professor
University of Maryland
College Park, Maryland
Abigail Batchelder, M.P.H., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
MGH/Harvard Medical School
Boston, Massachusetts
Kristen S. Regenauer, MS
Doctoral Student
University of Maryland
College Park, Maryland
Kaitlyn Gorman, M.A.
University of Massachusetts Boston
Watertown, Massachusetts
Miryam Yusufov, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Boston, Massachusetts
Morgan Anvari, PhD
Research Coordinator
University of Maryland, College Park
Hyattsville, Maryland
Jennifer M. Belus, PhD
Project Leader
Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute
Allschwil, Basel-Landschaft, Switzerland
Substance use (SUD) is consistently identified as one of the most stigmatized health conditions and associated with worse patient- and provider- outcomes related to treatment delivery. Among patients, internalized SUD stigma has been associated with lower treatment utilization and higher treatment dropout. Among clinicians, SUD stigma towards patients contributes to less empathy towards patients struggling with SUD and delivery of lower quality services. Yet, despite the prevalence of SUD stigma and its negative effects on treatment outcomes, research has been limited on understanding SUD stigma and how to reduce SUD stigma to improve access and quality of SUD services. Advancing the science on cognitive-behavioral interventions to reduce SUD stigma on multiple levels (i.e., patient, provider, organization) are needed, particularly in low-resource settings.
In this symposium, we present data from diverse populations in the United States and South Africa (SA) to examine how SUD stigma may impact healthcare, health-related behaviors, and treatment adherence. We also present data to inform which cognitive-behavioral-based interventions may be successful in reducing SUD stigma. Each study has significant implications for improving care and outcomes. We will first hear from a US-based study presenting data from sexuality minority men living with HIV who endorsed recent substance use. This study compares stigma, discrimination, and substance use prior to unprotected sex in participants who did and did not endorse recent injection drug use. Findings suggest that those who use injection drugs may face more stigma and discrimination than those who do not and are more likely to use substances prior to unprotected sex. Next, we will hear findings from a study that analyzed oncology clinician-patient encounters in the United States. This study explores patient concerns around opioids and pain management in the context of cancer care, along with clinician responses to these concerns. Findings point to the importance of educating clinicians about SU stigma even in disciplines not traditionally associated with SUD. Subsequent presentations will focus on intervention efforts, specifically peer-delivered interventions to reduce substance use locally and globally, with the aim of demonstrating how contact with peer interventionists may shift substance use stigma. Two studies present data from peer-delivered cognitive-behavioral interventions. Presenters will discuss whether the interventions reduce patient-level SUD stigma, and whether patient-level SUD stigma was associated with health-related outcomes. The final presentation is on a pilot cognitive-behavioral intervention aiming to reduce provider level SUD and mental health stigma among community health workers in HIV care in SA. Throughout this symposium, all presenters will discuss the implications of SUD stigma in their respective study populations, and how the findings of each study can inform future evidence-based interventions to reduce SUD stigma in order to improve the care of patients who use substances. We will also promote the translation of lessons learned from high- and low-income contexts to advance our understanding of global efforts to reduce SUD stigma.
Presenter: Kristen S. Regenauer, MS – University of Maryland
Co-author: Kristen S. Regenauer, MS – University of Maryland
Co-author: Yuche Jacobs, M.A. – South African Medical Research Council
Co-author: Nonceba Ciya, Other – South African Medical Research Council
Co-author: Sibabalwe Ndamase, B.S., B.A. – South African Medical Research Council
Co-author: Kim Johnson, M.A. – South African Medical Research Council
Co-author: Alexandra L. Rose, MSc – University of Maryland
Co-author: Jennifer M. Belus, PhD – Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute
Co-author: Bronwyn Myers, PhD – Curtin University
Co-author: Jessica F. Magidson, PhD – University of Maryland
Presenter: Kaitlyn R. Gorman, M.A. – University of Massachusetts Boston
Co-author: Kaitlyn R. Gorman, M.A. – University of Massachusetts Boston
Co-author: Jacklyn D. Foley, Ph.D. – Massachusetts General Hospital
Co-author: Abigail W. Batchelder, M.P.H., Ph.D. – MGH/Harvard Medical School
Presenter: Miryam Yusufov, Ph.D. – Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Co-author: Miryam Yusufov, Ph.D. – Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Co-author: Kathryn I. Pollak, PhD – Duke Cancer Institute
Co-author: Hanneke Poort, PhD – Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Co-author: Yvan Beaussant, MD – Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Co-author: Elise Tarbi, PhD – Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Co-author: Richard E. Leiter, MD, MA – Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Co-author: James A. Tulsky, MD – Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Presenter: Morgan Anvari, PhD – University of Maryland, College Park
Co-author: Morgan Anvari, PhD – University of Maryland, College Park
Co-author: Mary B. Kleinman, MS, MPH – University of Maryland
Co-author: Valerie D. Bradley, MPS – University of Maryland
Co-author: Dwayne Dean, Other – Project HEAL, University of Maryland
Co-author: Tolulope M. Abidogun, MPH – University of Maryland
Co-author: C. J. Seitz-Brown, PhD – University of Maryland
Co-author: Abigail C. Hines, BS – University of Maryland
Co-author: Annabelle M. Belcher, PhD – University of Maryland School of Medicine
Co-author: Aaron D. Greenblatt, MD – University of Maryland School of Medicine
Co-author: Julia W. Felton, PhD – Henry Ford Health System
Co-author: Jessica F. Magidson, PhD – University of Maryland
Presenter: Jennifer M. Belus, PhD – Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute
Co-author: Jennifer M. Belus, PhD – Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute
Co-author: Hongjie Ke, MSc – University of Maryland
Co-author: Tianzhou (Charles) Ma, PhD – University of Maryland
Co-author: Kristen S. Regenauer, MS – University of Maryland
Co-author: Bronwyn Myers, PhD – Curtin University
Co-author: Jessica F. Magidson, PhD – University of Maryland