Effects of Stigma Around Opioid Addiction and Treatment
Additional Information
One of the largest and most unfortunate challenges to opioid addiction treatment is the stigma around Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) or addiction in general. A goal here at Recover Clarity is to assist in breaking down this stigma as well as advocating not only for our patients but for everyone who has been impacted by the Opioid Epidemic and Opioid Use Disorder. Stigmas often can cause problems at all levels of the individual’s life, and for many desiring treatment, it is this stigma that will stop them from seeking life-saving treatment. So how can the stigma around opioid addiction affect treatment and how can we put a stop to this stigma?
The worst stigma associated with opioid addiction is that the person suffering from Opioid Use Disorder is a “bad” person, which could have a variety of meanings. Some look at those with addiction as criminals or a strain on society, which neither could be farther from the truth. Most people that have never had a connection with addiction either being personally addicted or having a loved one suffering from addiction could truly understand the grasp this has on a person’s life. This is where education on the topic of addiction, especially that with opioid addiction is a crucial factor in stopping the stigma. No person has ever woken up one day and decided that they wanted to be physically and mentally addicted to any substance. This is not a choice but something that unfortunately happened over a period of time and often started with a legal prescription from a medical provider.
Where many have the view that those suffering from substance use disorders are criminals is coming from a point of misunderstanding. As some may commit crimes to support their substance use habit, it is the treatment of the substance use disorder that will stop this behavior. Many people in active addiction are only doing what they believe is needed to obtain their substances and often only focus on preventing physically severe withdrawal, such as that with opioid addiction. The most common criminal activities are that of petty theft, retail theft, and distribution of illicit substances. This does not make the negative actions of the individual acceptable, but often the person would have never committed any crimes if they were not currently suffering from addiction. Therefore with early and effective treatment many of these behaviors would not have existed. Some that sell drugs are often not doing so for financial gain, but to assist in supporting their habit during active addiction. There are many selling illicit substances only for financial gain and this criminal activity ruins the lives of many, both those addicted and others in that person’s life. And as of recent years, many selling illicit substances for financial gains are also mixing substances like fentanyl and xylazine which greatly increases the chances of fatal overdoses. Even prescription pain medications sold illicitly are not as they appear and are pressed substances containing fentanyl.
Stigmas associated with individuals with a history of addiction or addiction-related crimes provide barriers to employment. They are leaving a person without a means to earn an honest income, which can lead to criminal acts to support themselves, their children, etc. As it is not acceptable to commit crimes, if the stigmas were not there and everyone was given another chance in life, these likely would be greatly diminished or eliminated. Some of these stigmas, at times, can stop someone from entering into treatment as they do not want addiction treatment on their record. For those with insurance, if this is a concern, self-pay options are available to keep such records from making it to insurance companies and to their place of employment. Worries about failing drug tests for Buprenorphine (Suboxone) is another concern many will have with employment. This should not be a concern as long as this medication is being prescribed by a medical provider, as with any medication that is legally acquired and taken as directed.
Pharmacy staff also can project their stigmas and cause barriers to treatment. Some staff at pharmacies, including pharmacists and technicians may automatically treat patients differently when they see certain types of medications being prescribed, such as that with Buprenorphine (Suboxone or Subutex). This is absolutely not acceptable and any patient at Recover Clarity receiving such negative treatment should make us aware as we happily will correct this with the pharmacy (and yes we are successful at this). And as the medication can cause a stigma, there is also a difference when looking at Subutex vs Suboxone. Both are Buprenorphine based medications, but there is higher diversion of the medication Subutex vs Suboxone. Diversion is a major concern in the industry and by the DEA. Due to diversion concerns, Subutex medication can often be harder to acquire and have even more of a stigma associated with it. This is another reason when viewing Subutex vs Suboxone, it is Suboxone that is the preferred Buprenorphine medication. There are also many other medical reasons why Suboxone is preferred over Subutex.
Parenting or being pregnant can bring about other stigmas for those suffering from addiction, especially opioid addiction. Some people worry about the stigmas they may face about being in treatment while being pregnant or while being a parent in general. The simple fact is that this is way safer and using treatment appropriately is no different than being on any other medication to assist with a medical disorder. And at any time being in treatment is by far safer and leads to better outcomes for the children than if the parent is in active addiction. As it is ideal that anyone pregnant is off any opioid medications, Buprenorphine is safer for the fetus than even Methadone and especially safer than pain medications or heroin and fentanyl.
Stigma To Attending Suboxone Treatment
Even after dealing with the stigmas associated with active addiction, some may face stigmas around being in treatment. Some members of groups such as Narcotics Anonymous (NA) believe that individuals receiving Buprenorphine treatment (Suboxone) are not “clean”. This is a poor judgment of treatment by those individuals, as they likely would not hold a diabetic accountable for taking insulin, which is a needed lifesaving medication just like that of Suboxone. Those receiving treatment for opioid addiction with Suboxone are three times more likely to be successful in their recovery than those not receiving any medication. That alone shows that the person is making a well-informed decision to best assist them on their path to recovery.
Suboxone is a form of Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) treatment which is the new name for Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT). When this form of treatment is performed correctly and monitored it disproves some of the stigmas. Those that view a person in MOUD or MAT treatment as not being “sober”, this is far from the truth. Buprenorphine or Suboxone when taken as prescribed does not allow for the patient to get “high”. Being a partial opioid agonist, there is a ceiling effect to the medication preventing the euphoric high that many in active addiction may be seeking. This is not true for methadone as that medication is a full opioid agonist, meaning a high is obtainable, and often the dosing provided are of higher quantity. The medication of Suboxone also includes Naloxone along with Buprenorphine. This provides a “safety net” for patients which will prevent the use of other opioids, assist in some overdose prevention in the event of a relapse, and is overall the preferred medication for Opioid Use Disorder. Therefore when comparing Suboxone vs Methadone, it is clear that there are greatly more advantages with treatment from a Suboxone clinic over that of Methadone.
Stigma Around Telehealth Suboxone Doctors
Telehealth or telemedicine is not a new concept in medical treatment services but is newer in the realm of Suboxone clinics. Many in the field have an outdated belief that telehealth treatment is inferior to treatment completed in person. This stigma may prevent those suffering from addiction from receiving desired and needed treatment. Vast research has been done since the start of telehealth showing that often outcomes to treatment have no difference between in-person treatment and that of telehealth, with research showing great support for telehealth. There are many advantages of telehealth especially in the treatment of opioid addiction from Suboxone clinics. Sometimes stigmas can come from poorly used naming of treatments, such as the most commonly searched term in Google of Online Suboxone Doctors near me. The term online Suboxone doctors has a very generic sound to it and makes it appear less qualified than that of an in-person doctor. However, despite the means of treatment, the qualifications for the medical providers are the same.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) recently updated the allowance of online telehealth for Suboxone treatment. This is an expansion of the emergency COVID-19 protocols. The reason for this change is because of the proven benefit of Suboxone telehealth in assisting many patients with critical care for Opioid Use Disorder. This new allowance took years in the making and went into effect on 10/2/2024. As this is allowed at the Federal level, there is always the chance that at the state level, it could be changed. At this time Recover Clarity assists patients in Pennsylvania and West Virginia, both of which are allowing for telehealth Suboxone in their states to continue. This type of treatment has many advantages but even more so for states with largely rural areas as other in-person treatment options are not available. Some companies have even created telehealth options for Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP) for substance use disorders, again expanding the availability of treatment. However telehealth options may not be the level of care a person needs at the time and in-person treatment programs, especially at the beginning of recovery, are still a greatly useful treatment modality.
Use of Compassion and Understanding To Break Stigmas
Education is one of the best methods for breaking stigmas, but educating people takes an active role on their part. Teaching people to be understanding of a topic is not as easy as it may sound as well as making sure they treat others with compassion. Compassion, being understanding, and providing education is a large goal here at Recover Clarity. For those who need to learn more about the grasp of addiction in a person’s life, can be provided by the use of Recover Clarity’s Psychoeducational Therapy Platform. As this therapy tool is largely used for patients the information would greatly benefit anyone who needs to learn about addiction, how people enter into treatment (Stages of Change), live with cravings, and coping skills, among many other topics. Getting a true understanding of how addiction affects a person’s life and the lives of those around them is crucial in breaking down these stigmas. This blog is only one small part and over time hopefully, truthful information provided via other channels like podcasts and social media can assist with providing correct information.
Unfortunately with the wealth of information there is out on the internet, there is a vast amount of incorrect information. A good example of this is that of social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. The information provided here can come from anyone and it is important to know the source of your information. Even blogs on websites can provide false or misleading information. When providing information to others to assist in educating them, it is important to know the source of the information. For instance, this blog and the information on Recover Clarity’s website are all written by the founder of the company. This information is based on personal experiences working in the field of substance use disorder, and mental health, being a Professor of Psychology, and having multiple undergraduate and graduate degrees in the field. As we as a society are always advancing, it is equally important that authors of the information stay current with the research in the field as well as look towards innovative changes that are evidence-based.
