A new study from the University of Georgia suggests that mental health workers may hold the harshest views toward the very patient population they’re supposed to help: people with opioid addiction.
The researchers found that healthcare workers in the mental health field, including those providing mental health treatment, support services and more, had higher levels of stigmatizing views toward people with opioid addictions than the general population.
In 2024, more than 82,000 people died of an opioid overdose. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that millions more Americans have an opioid use disorder.
Unfortunately, many won’t ask for help.
“Stigma is a mental barrier to seeking help,” said Virginia Brown, lead author of the study and University of Georgia Cooperative Extension evaluation specialist in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. “If you’re afraid that someone will judge you because you are experiencing an opioid use disorder, you are less likely to seek treatment.”
Negative views toward people with opioid addiction could impact treatment
The researchers surveyed 1,600 people across 13 Southern states and asked participants to rate how much they agree with certain statements.
These statements included: “People with opioid use problems are to blame for their situation,” “people with opioid use problems who take drug therapies like methadone are replacing one addiction with another” and “I tend to negatively judge people with opioid use problems.”
Overall, mental health workers and first responders were more likely to agree with these statements than other participants.
“We know that people get into these professions to help people, but for whatever reason, they’re experiencing stigma towards people struggling with opioid addiction,” Brown said. “That’s something that needs to be addressed.”
We’re hoping that this study is just another piece of the puzzle to … addressing this issue and helping reduce this disorder.
Virginia Brown, College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences
Those negative views could impact how providers treat opioid-addicted patients. For example, healthcare workers may be less likely to prescribe medications that could help opioid users manage their addiction.
Increased training for mental health workers and first responders may be the key to reducing stigma, the researchers said.
Ideally, these programs should emphasize listening with an open mind and not judging people who misuse opioids. There are also programs, such as Mental Health First Aid, that can help people ask the right questions, recognize the signs of addiction and help others find treatment.
“We have evidence from this study that people want to help each other get better, but they don’t necessarily have the tools to do it,” Brown said. “We’re hoping that this study is just another piece of the puzzle to lead people on the path to addressing this issue and helping reduce this disorder.”
The study was published in Community Mental Health Journal and co-authored by Thuy Dung Pham, principal investigator Diane Bales, Maria Bowie and Anna Scheyett.