REPORT: OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHANGE

February 14, 2023

New report identifies opportunities for change to address widespread stigma towards PWUD or are in recovery in the U.S. healthcare system

Elevyst and PRO-A collaborated with RIWI to harness Random Domain Intercept Technology (RDIT) to conduct the largest online survey to date of over 24,000 Americans and almost 6000 healthcare workers assessing endorsed and perceived substance use and recovery stigma expressed by U.S. healthcare workers, as compared to non-healthcare workers.

This report discusses the results of the survey, while providing social and political context to help account for trends in the data.

Healthcare workers are important to study in this context because they frequently encounter PWUD/IR in a professional setting and are a reflection of the system in which they work. There is also an inherent power dynamic between healthcare workers and their patients especially PWUD/IR who often expect and receive substandard medical care.