ResearchProjects

The overarching purpose of this pilot study is to examine how experiences of substance use-related stigma and stigma management strategies may differ among individuals who represent diverse substance use patterns, recovery pathways, and identity features. Understanding substance use-related stigma from this holistic perspective is critical to support individuals’ recovery and use of treatment and supportive services and to strengthen recovery community networks.

In this study, people with a history of substance use will be recruited from a local recovery community center to participate in mixed-methods interviews to address the following two specific aims:

1. Characterize multidimensional SU-related stigma experiences and management strategies among individuals representing diverse perspectives, and
2. Compare validated, quantitative measures of SU-related stigma to qualitative findings to determine strengths and gaps of existing assessment tools.