Provider Stigma May Keep People From Opioid Use Treatment

For anyone seeking treatment for both mental health conditions and opioid addictions, the quality of care depends partly on one factor that rarely appears in a facility’s brochure: what the staff actually believe about addiction. A new University of Georgia study suggests that belief is a problem in the environment where integrated care is supposed to happen.

Researchers learned that mental healthcare workers, including treatment providers and support personnel, reported higher levels of stigmatizing views toward individuals with opioid addictions when compared to the general population.

The UGA Survey

The team surveyed 1,600 people in 13 Southern states and asked participants how strongly they agreed with a series of statements. Those included the ideas that people with opioid use problems are to blame for their situation, that folks taking drug therapies such as methadone substitute one addiction for another, and that the respondent tends to judge people with opioid use problems negatively.

Mental health professionals and first responders tended to agree with these statements than others. Lead author Virginia Brown, a specialist with University of Georgia Cooperative Extension in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, framed the stakes in terms of access. “Stigma is a mental barrier to seeking help,” she noted, pointing out that people who expect judgment are less likely to pursue treatment.

The scale of the population affected is large. More than 82,000 folks died from opioid overdoses in 2024. The Department of Health and Human Services estimates that millions more Americans have opioid use disorders, especially as part of a dual diagnosis. Many won’t ask for help.

This Matters for Co-Occurring Disorders

Opioid use disorder and mental health conditions overlap heavily, and integrated treatment for co-occurring disorders depends on behavioral health staff who can treat both without judgment attached to one of them.

These views could affect how providers treat patients with opioid addiction. One possibility researchers raised is that healthcare workers may be less likely to prescribe medications that help folks manage their condition. The study measured attitudes rather than prescribing behavior, so this is a concern the authors identify rather than a finding they demonstrated.

The methadone statement in the survey also ties into this factor. The belief that medication substitutes one addiction for another runs counter to the evidence base, which supports methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone to fight opioid use disorders. A clinician holding that belief may steer a patient away from the most effective option available.

Training as the Proposed Response

Increased training for mental health workers and first responders can reduce stigma, researchers argued. They suggested programs emphasize empathy with an open mind rather than judging others who misuse opioids.

They also pointed to existing programs, including Mental Health First Aid, which teaches people to ask appropriate questions, recognize signs of addiction and help others connect with group and individual options.

Brown described the gap as one of tools rather than intent, saying the study found evidence that people want to help each other but do not necessarily have the means to do it. 

Approaches to Look For in a Program

The study points to a practical screening question for families comparing behavioral treatment centers: ask how the program handles opioid use disorder specifically, and whether medications for it are available and supported. A program that treats mental health conditions but hesitates on medication for addiction isn’t delivering integrated care, regardless of what its materials say.

Patients should also inquire into the training staff receive on substance use, and whether the same clinical team handles both conditions.

Comprehensive Treatment without Stigma

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Author

Quentin Blount

Content Manager

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Quentin brings nearly a decade of experience as a writer, editor, and digital publisher to his role as Content Manager for Rehab.com. He aims to help people better understand their treatment options by creating engaging and informative content that is user-friendly, factually accurate, and optimized for search engine visibility. In his free time, Quentin enjoys the company of his friends, family, and his dog, Coop.

Editor

Peter Lee, PhD

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Peter W.Y. Lee is a writer and historian of American history during the Cold War. His primary focus is the relationship between youth and popular culture and its impact on U.S. society during the twentieth century. He has published widely on how the public has used popular culture as a mechanism to address political and social shifts throughout time