You don't have to struggle with addiction and mental health challenges alone.
The opioid crisis has devastated families and wreaked havoc throughout many communities across the U.S. Its impact has been especially damaging in Hennepin County. Amid this public health emergency, one factor continues to worsen the crisis: the stigma surrounding opioid addiction and overdoses.
Understanding this stigma and why it's unhelpful in preventing opioid overdoses is critical to learning how to better address the opioid crisis in communities. By taking a more compassionate approach, communities can create an environment where those experiencing opioid addiction feel empowered and supported when seeking help.
The stigma of opioid overdoses is rooted in popular misconceptions about those experiencing an addiction. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, addiction is a chronic disease caused by changes in the brain that challenge a person's self-control. Unfortunately, many people see addiction as a moral failing or simply the result of poor choices instead of the disease it is. Whether it's on purpose or not, this leads to judgment and isolation, making it harder for those experiencing addiction to seek help.
For those who experience an overdose and survive, the stigma they experience after can be even more dangerous. Not only are they recovering from a physically and emotionally draining event, but they're often blamed for what happened by their friends, family, and even medical professionals. Reaching out for help to be met by such dismissal can cause someone experiencing an addiction to withdraw even more.
Not only does this stigma cause community members to judge and isolate those experiencing an addiction subconsciously, but it also puts up barriers to creating public awareness or treatment options for those experiencing opioid addiction. Since the dismissal and blame may cause those in need to withdraw, it creates an air of secrecy and taboo, making it hard to notice when someone starts to show signs of substance abuse.
In a 2021 report from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, about 10% of people who felt they needed help with substance abuse said they didn't seek treatment because of fear of the backlash they might get from their communities. In addition to not seeking out services and resources that might help, they might be more reluctant to call 911 during an opioid overdose or seek out medical treatment out of fear of mistreatment or getting themselves in legal trouble.
If communities can approach the topic of addiction and struggling community members with compassion, this would cut down shame around substance abuse and overdose. Instead, communities should encourage those in need to reach out for help. This shift from fear to understanding can save lives by promoting early intervention and providing people struggling with the resources they need on their recovery journey.
To fight the stigma of opioid overdose, education must be a priority. Here are some ways to help educate the community:
Normalize conversations about addiction. Since there's so much shame and taboo around the topic of addiction, encouraging open and honest discussion can minimize stigma and challenge stereotypes surrounding addiction.
Educate community members about Narcan. Training community members about the importance of Narcan and how to properly use it to stop an opioid overdose can save lives. The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office offers training for anyone wanting to learn how to recognize and prevent an overdose. After completing the training, they'll mail you a free Narcan supply.
Support harm reduction programs. Harm reduction programs like syringe services programs can help to prevent the spread of disease and overdose deaths by valuing safety over punishment.
Emphasize the science behind opioid addiction. Teaching the community about how opioids can affect brain chemistry and helping them understand that it's a medical condition, not a moral failing, can help reduce the stigma around opioid addiction.
Ultimately, getting rid of the stigma around opioid addiction requires community members to change how they see and respond to addiction completely. By creating an environment of understanding and support, communities can empower those in need to seek help without fear and reduce the damage and harm the opioid crisis has caused local communities.
If you or someone you know is struggling with opioid addiction, you are not alone. Hennepin County offers resources designed to help you navigate the challenges of addiction, including treatment and recovery programs, harm reduction services, and more.
For more information about these resources, visit Hennepin County's website or contact local health care services.