Press Release: New Report Explores the Effect of Stigma on Naloxone Access and Policy Support
- Addiction Policy Forum
- Jul 29
- 3 min read
Findings suggest that higher levels of stigma are associated with decreased support for naloxone availability
Bethesda, MD (July 29, 2025) — The Addiction Policy Forum released a new report today that examines how addiction-related stigma is associated with attitudes toward naloxone access and policy endorsement. For the study, Addiction Policy Forum and researchers from the University of Delaware designed and administered a survey to 57 partner organizations, ranging from public health departments, hospital systems, universities, recovery community organizations, and criminal justice agencies.
The findings show a consistent, statistically significant relationship between higher levels of stigma and decreased support for naloxone availability, supporting that addressing attitudes toward naloxone is critical to advancing life-saving policies.
“Stigma has real consequences,” said Jessica Hulsey, Founder and Executive Director of the Addiction Policy Forum. “It not only delays treatment, isolates individuals and families, and prevents people from accessing lifesaving services, but it also has serious policy implications. These findings underscore the association between stigma and naloxone support and emphasize the importance of education and targeted stigma-reduction initiatives.”
Dr. Valerie Earnshaw, Associate Professor at the University of Delaware, emphasized the policy implications: “Our findings suggest that stigma is associated with support for addiction-related policies. Reducing stigma is essential for building broader support for harm reduction strategies like naloxone access.”
Key Findings:
Widespread Support for Naloxone Access: 83.3% of participants supported making naloxone available to friends and family members of people with opioid use disorder, while 11.8% were opposed or neutral.
Endorsement of Naloxone by Profession: The highest levels of support were among participants who worked in community services/nonprofits (95%) and healthcare (90.9%), whereas participants who worked in sales and business/financial operations reported lower endorsement levels (79.3% and 77.4%, respectively).
Stigma Linked to Naloxone Opposition: Individuals who opposed naloxone access reported higher levels of stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination than those who were supportive.
Stereotypes Differ by Profession: The endorsement of stereotypes was highest among individuals who worked in management and sales, while those who worked in business and community services/nonprofits showed the lowest levels.
The report is based on a cross-sectional survey of 5,158 respondents administered between November 2023 and July 2024.
We would like to thank Emergent BioSolutions for supporting this work, along with the 57 participating sites that played an integral role in the success of this survey. These sites included community service organizations, treatment providers, public health agencies, hospitals, and state/local government agencies from 28 states nationwide, along with one international site. Their commitment to distributing the survey and engaging with communities has been invaluable in ensuring the collection of critical insights into the perceptions and experiences surrounding addiction. This data is essential for informing meaningful recommendations and shaping initiatives aimed at reducing stigma and fostering more compassionate strategies. We recognize the time, effort, and resources they devoted to this effort and deeply appreciate our partnership in advancing this important work.
The full findings from the report are available here.
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Addiction Policy Forum
Addiction Policy Forum works to combat the deadly consequences of addiction and help patients, families, and communities affected by the disease. The nationwide nonprofit organization is dedicated to eliminating addiction as a major health problem by helping patients, families, and communities affected by the disease, translating the science around addiction, expanding access to evidence-based prevention and treatment, and ending the stigma around addiction.
University of Delaware
Led by Dr. Valerie Earnshaw, University of Delaware Associate Professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, her research aims to understand and intervene in associations between stigma and health inequities.
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