Addiction Policy Forum

Across the country, stigma remains one of the greatest barriers preventing people from seeking help for substance use disorders. In Montgomery County, Ohio, the Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) Board is tackling this challenge head-on through its bold public awareness initiative, Stigma Is Out of Style. After joining Addiction Policy Forum’s Anti-Stigma Initiative, Montgomery County ADAMHS piloted a community survey in partnership with the Addiction Policy Forum to...

Despite decades of research and growing public awareness about substance use disorders (SUDs), stigma continues to affect how people are treated, whether they seek help, and how communities respond to addiction. Stigma occurs when people are viewed as different, less worthy, or defined by their illness, leading to stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination. Stigma can discourage people from accessing treatment, create barriers to recovery, and contribute to discrimination in employment,...

The Addiction Policy Forum community joins colleagues across the country in mourning the loss of Loretta "Sis" Wenger, a pioneering advocate whose life's work transformed support for children and families affected by addiction. For more than four decades, Sis was a tireless voice for children affected by parental substance use. Long before adverse childhood experiences and intergenerational trauma became widely recognized, she was educating policymakers, healthcare professionals, educators,...