Substance Use Stigma and Policy

The pervasive stigma surrounding nonmedical substance use and substance use disorder relates to policy along multiple bidirectional pathways. To meaningfully reduce substance use stigma, we need members of the public to be able to readily identify positive examples of people benefiting from evidence-based substance use services and thriving in their daily lives. To saturate the public with these types of positive examples, public and institutional policies must shift to support widespread delivery of effective substance use interventions, including prevention, treatment, and harm reduction approaches. This chapter introduces a conceptual framework for delineating key ways in which stigma and policy relate to one another; synthesizes the evidence on what is known about the relationship between substance use stigma and policy; and discusses the evidence surrounding strategies to reduce stigma and increase support for policies benefiting people who use substances and/or experience substance use disorder.