Woo Julia, Bhalerao Anuja, Bawor Monica, Bhatt Meha, Dennis Brittany, Mouravska Natalia, Zielinski Laura, Samaan Zainab
Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
Subst Abuse. 2017 Mar 23;11:1178221816685087. doi: 10.1177/1178221816685087. eCollection 2017.
Despite its efficacy and widespread use, methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) continues to be widely stigmatized. Reducing the stigma surrounding MMT will help improve the accessibility, retention, and treatment outcomes in MMT.
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 adults undergoing MMT. Thematic content analysis was used to identify overarching themes.
In total, 78% of participants reported having experienced stigma surrounding MMT. Common stereotypes associated with MMT patients included the following: methadone as a way to get high, incompetence, untrustworthiness, lack of willpower, and heroin junkies. Participants reported that stigma resulted in lower self-esteem; relationship conflicts; reluctance to initiate, access, or continue MMT; and distrust toward the health care system. Public awareness campaigns, education of health care workers, family therapy, and community meetings were cited as potential stigma-reduction strategies.
Stigma is a widespread and serious issue that adversely affects MMT patients' quality of life and treatment. More efforts are needed to combat MMT-related stigma.
尽管美沙酮维持治疗（MMT）具有疗效且应用广泛，但仍普遍受到污名化。减少围绕MMT的污名将有助于提高MMT的可及性、治疗保留率及治疗效果。
对18名接受MMT的成年人进行了半结构化访谈。采用主题内容分析法来确定总体主题。
总体而言，78%的参与者报告曾经历过围绕MMT的污名。与MMT患者相关的常见刻板印象包括：将美沙酮视为一种获取快感的方式、无能、不可信赖、缺乏意志力以及海洛因成瘾者。参与者报告称，污名导致自尊心降低、人际关系冲突、不愿开始、接受或继续MMT，以及对医疗保健系统的不信任。公众宣传活动、医护人员教育、家庭治疗和社区会议被视为潜在的减少污名策略。
污名是一个普遍且严重的问题，对MMT患者的生活质量和治疗产生不利影响。需要做出更多努力来消除与MMT相关的污名。
