Poster #149 - Medication for Opioid Use Disorder Use History and Stigma: A Mixed-Methods Approach

• In Event: ASC Poster Session II

Abstract

Medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) has been shown to contribute to reduced overdose rates and lower the cost of treatment for 2.1 million Americans. Despite the effectiveness of MOUD, stigma can arise from a variety of sources. Most MOUD patients have used MOUD in the past, yet past experiences with MOUD have not been examined in relation to attitudes or self-stigmatizing beliefs regarding MOUD effectiveness in the present. Survey data was collected from 100 participants (50 MOUD patients/50 using opioids currently) related to past MOUD experiences, current MOUD attitudes/beliefs, and quality of life. 20 participants (10 MOUD patients/10 using opioids currently) were interviewed about their history of drug use, stigma experiences, and MOUD attitudes. Results are anticipated to suggest that prior non-prescription illicit MOUD use (e.g. to get high, etc.) impacts attitudes about MOUD efficacy (e.g. “MOUD is still a drug,” “MOUD won’t work for me,” etc.), while prior non-prescription MOUD use for prescription-reasons (e.g. to try to get sober) may not have the same self-stigmatization. Anticipated implications will impact how MOUD professionals pitch MOUD use to potential patients. Addressing prior use in MOUD clinics has the potential to dispel negative associations related to past experiences.

Authors

• Alex Lewis, University of Central Florida

• Amy Donley, University of Central Florida