Action Team Goal
The Mecosta County Reduce Stigma Against Substance Use Disorders Project is working to evaluate the prevalence of stigma against SUDs and design and implement a campaign to change perceptions of SUDs.
Targeted Problem
Stigma against substance use disorders (SUDs) is a major barrier to accessing services and supports in Mecosta County and to living a happy and productive life. Residents with an SUD are likely to avoid seeking the supports they need for fear of negative consequences, such as judgment from friends/family, unpleasant interactions with healthcare providers, or workplace fallout. Despite the reality that substance use disorders are associated with changes in brain circuitry, people with substance use disorders often face significant stigma for “choosing” to use. As a result, they are sometimes viewed as “bad”, “weak”, or “unfit for society”. These public biases against people with SUDs can deter those affected from seeking help.
Our Collective Work
District Health Department #10 (DHD#10) received a grant from the Mecosta County Opioid Settlement Funds in 2024 to partner with the Mecosta/Osceola Substance Awareness Coalition to evaluate and address the stigma toward substance use disorders in Mecosta County. Find the resources created by the project below. A list of the partners who contributed to this work can also be found below.
Assessing Stigma Towards SUDs in Mecosta County
The Reduce Stigma Against Substance Use Disorders Project completed a series of community, provider, and law enforcement/first responder assessments and evaluated the state of stigma around substance use disorders in the region. The partners collected data from 200+ residents and professionals in the region in 2024 through these assessments. The assessments revealed that stigma against substance use disorders is still a major barrier to accessing services in the region.
Launching a Campaign to Fight Stigma
The Reduce Stigma Against Substance Use Disorders Action Team used the results of the stigma assessment to design a public education campaign. This campaign includes a social media campaign and a series of education programs for providers & law enforcement/first responders. The social media campaign is designed to educate the public about the prevalence of stigma in the region and to inspire them to make changes in their personal & professional lives to affect this.
Additional Resources to Combat Stigma
Learn about stigma against substance use disorders and what you can do to combat it.
Action Team Members
Staff
- Erin Oleniczak – District Health Department #10
- Emily Pokorski – District Health Department #10
- Donna Norkoli – District Health Department #10
- Jim Young – District Health Department #10
Partners (MOSAC)
- Shay Tullar – Mecosta County Prevention Coordinator – Ten 16 Recovery Network
- Cody Colwell – Ten 16 Recovery Network
- Haley Tracy – Corewell Health Big Rapids, Reed City
- Sarah Surna – Midstate Health Network
- Amy Tribe – Corewell Health
- Brandy Pluger – Marion Schools
- Denise Moore – MMCAA
- Katie Moresi – Corewell Health
- Vaughan Martens – CMHCM
- Scott Lombard – Corewell Health
- Maria Vandam – CMHCM
- Anna Reetz – CMDHD
- Ashley Hanafin – Osceola Juvenile Probation
- Rhonda Fish – DHHS-MYOI
- Kerry Winkle – MOISD
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO SUPPORT OUR CAMPAIGN TO FIGHT STIGMA?
- Help us educate the public and reduce stigma against substance use disorders in the region! Post the social media campaign on your personal or agency Facebook pages! You can repost the materials directly from District Health Department #10’s Facebook Page or download the materials in the folder above.
