Date of Conferral

2022

Degree

Doctor of Social Work (DSW)

School

Social Work

Advisor

Debora Rice

Abstract

The opioid epidemic is one of the largest health problems in America. In one Southwest Michigan county, opioid overdose deaths increased from 36 deaths in 2008 to 104 deaths in 2017. In the same county, stigma was identified as the highest-ranked reason people do not seek opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment. The purpose of this study was to examine knowledge that social work practitioners have regarding stigma toward people who inject drugs with OUD in Southwest Michigan. The purpose aligned with social work values as people with OUD are marginalized and cannot advocate for themselves. The theoretical framework that guided this study was stigma theory. This qualitative action research included two Zoom focus groups with five social work practitioners licensed and certified in the state of Michigan to treat people with OUD. The findings included the participants’ knowledge regarding stigma toward people with OUD. Data were organized and analyzed using the elemental method and three themes were identified: (a) internalized stigma, (b) provider stigma, and (c) social stigma. From the three themes, the data indicated four sources for the origination of the stigma: (a) providers (both medical and behavioral health), (b) policy, (c) society, and (d) the recovery community. The findings of this study can contribute to positive social change when used to design education about how stigma develops and how stigma impacts people’s ability to seek treatment for providers, friends, and family members of people with OUD and policy makers.

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