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. 2021 Jan;37(1):29-34.
doi: 10.1111/jrh.12503. Epub 2020 Aug 1.

Community Attitudes Toward Opioid Use Disorder and Medication for Opioid Use Disorder in a Rural Appalachian County

Taylor Beachler  1 , T Aaron Zeller  2   3 , Moonseong Heo  4 , Jennifer Lanzillotta-Rangeley  5 , Alain H Litwin  1   3   6
Affiliations

Community Attitudes Toward Opioid Use Disorder and Medication for Opioid Use Disorder in a Rural Appalachian County

Taylor Beachler et al. J Rural Health. 2021 Jan.

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate community attitudes concerning opioid use disorder (OUD) and medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in a rural community, and to plan educational initiatives to reduce stigma surrounding OUD and treatment.

Methods: Dissemination of a 24-question survey to people living in a rural community followed by comparative analysis of survey results between 2 groups classified by recognition of OUD as a real illness.

Findings: Three hundred sixty-one individuals responded. Overall, 69% agreed that OUD is a real illness. Respondents recognizing OUD as a real illness were less likely to agree that individuals with OUD are dangerous (P = .014), more likely to agree that MOUD is effective (P < .001), that individuals with OUD should have the same right to a job (P < .001), and that naloxone should be administered for every overdose every time (P = .002).

Conclusions: Significant stigma exists toward individuals with OUD in rural communities, and recognizing OUD as a real illness is associated with less stigmatizing attitudes and better understanding of MOUD. Further study should focus on how to effectively convince communities that OUD is a real illness.

Keywords: medication for opioid use disorder; opioid response; opioid use disorder; rural; stigma.

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References

    1. Opioid Use Disorder: Challenges and Opportunities in Rural Communities. Philadelphia, PA: The Pew Charitable Trusts; 2020.
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