Center for Health and Safety Culture, Montana State University, P.O. Box 170548, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA.
Leidos, Reston, VA, USA.
J Community Health. 2024 Aug;49(4):724-731. doi: 10.1007/s10900-023-01278-6. Epub 2024 Feb 26.
As the opioid epidemic continues, availability of evidence-based strategies for harm reduction and treatment in communities is critical to reduce overdose and other consequences of opioid use disorder. Community members' support of harm reduction and treatment services is needed for new programs and to maintain existent programs. This study sought to understand beliefs and attitudes associated with support for three community-based strategies to address opioid misuse and addiction: naloxone, needle exchange, and medication-assisted treatment. We conducted a cross-sectional online survey with 545 adults. Results of the survey showed that participants supported all three strategies, with the strongest support for medication-assisted treatment. Multiple regression showed that stigma and perceived stigma were significant predictors for all three strategies, with inverse relationships. Stigmatizing beliefs predicted less support while perceiving stigma among others was associated with greater support for the strategies. Normative beliefs also significantly predicted support for all three strategies, such that stronger belief that others were supportive of each strategy was associated with greater support for that strategy. Other predictors varied across the three strategies. Support for harm reduction and treatment programs in communities affected by the opioid epidemic may be bolstered by reducing stigma and increasing normative beliefs. Stronger support for medication-assisted treatment may be leveraged and extended to harm reduction strategies. Results of our study contribute insights for bolstering community support for harm reduction and treatment, which is vital for adoption and maintenance of these important programs.
随着阿片类药物流行的持续，在社区中提供基于证据的减少伤害和治疗策略对于减少过量用药和其他阿片类药物使用障碍的后果至关重要。新的项目和现有的项目都需要社区成员支持减少伤害和治疗服务。本研究旨在了解与支持三种社区为基础的策略相关的信念和态度，以解决阿片类药物滥用和成瘾问题：纳洛酮、针具交换和药物辅助治疗。我们对 545 名成年人进行了一项横断面在线调查。调查结果显示，参与者支持所有三种策略，其中对药物辅助治疗的支持最强。多元回归显示，污名化和感知污名化是所有三种策略的重要预测因素，呈反比关系。污名化的信念预示着支持度较低，而感知到他人的污名化则与对这些策略的更大支持相关。规范信念也显著预测了对所有三种策略的支持，即对他人支持每种策略的信念越强，对该策略的支持就越大。其他预测因素在三种策略中有所不同。减少污名化和增加规范信念可能会增强对受阿片类药物流行影响的社区中减少伤害和治疗项目的支持。对药物辅助治疗的更强支持可以利用并扩展到减少伤害策略。我们研究的结果为增强社区对减少伤害和治疗的支持提供了见解，这对于这些重要项目的采用和维持至关重要。
