Leveraging neuroscience education to address stigma related to opioid use disorder in the community: a pilot study

• DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1360356
• Publication Date: 2024-03-18T04:59:51Z
• Authors: Evan J. Kyzar; Melissa R. Arbuckle; Adam Abba-Aji; Krishna Balachandra; Joseph Cooper; Adriane Dela Cruz; Ellen Edens; Brady Heward; Michael Jibson; Ayana Jordan; Daniel Moreno-De-...; Hannah Pazderka; Mohit Singh; Jeremy J. Weleff; Bernice Yau; Justin Young; David A. Ross
• Keywords: Stigma; Opioid Overdose; Social stigma

Opioid use disorder (OUD) and overdose deaths are a public health crisis. One contributing factor is stigma towards people who opioids. We developed conducted public-facing, half-day educational event designed to challenge misperceptions about OUD from contemporary neuroscience perspective. Participants engaged with three different resources on the neurobiology of addiction, and, at end event, they rated its effectiveness. also collected compared pre- post-event composite scales. our approach overall as highly effective. Additionally, scores were lower immediately following this decrease was primarily driven by decreased internalized stigma. Here, we demonstrate an effective proof-of-concept that accessible, education may reduce in community.