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Behavorial Health Initiative Action Team
Community Stigma Assessment
Action Team Goal
The Reduce Stigma Against Substance Use Disorders Action Team is working to evaluate the prevalence of stigma against SUDs and design 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 the region 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.
Assessment of Stigma Towards SUDs in Northwest Michigan
The Reduce Stigma Against Substance Use Disorders Action Team 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 team also implemented an assessment of self-stigma amongst people experiencing substance use disorders. The team has collected data from 1000+ residents and professionals in the region in 2022 through these assessments. If you are interested in reviewing the full data collected from the community, self-stigma, healthcare provider, or law enforcement/first responder community assessments, please email us at [email protected].
Review the results of the public stigma against substance use disorders assessment.
Review the full results of the public stigma assessment.
Review the results of the self-stigma assessment. Discover the impact that a stigmatizing culture can have on those with substance use disorders.
Social Media 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. This campaign can be found on District Health Department #10’s Facebook Page and the materials for the campaign can be found in the folder of social media posts below.
Additional Resources to Combat Stigma
Learn about stigma against substance use disorders and what you can do to combat it.
SUDs are not a moral failing—they’re a treatable illness. Get the facts about this misunderstood medical condition.
See if it’s time to get help for you or a loved one.
Explore outpatient treatment for opiate and other drug addiction.
Learn about the types of stigma and how to combat them.
Learn how to combat stigma against SUDs by changing your language.
Find healthcare providers with a specialty in treatment of substance use disorders in the region.
Challenge what you know about mental health and addiction. Can you beat the clock—and beat the stigma?
Action Team Members
Since 2021, 33 stakeholders in the NW MI region have been engaged in the work of this Action Team.
Leader
- Donna Norkoli – District Health Department #10
Staff
- Erin Oleniczak – District Health Department #10
- Emily Pokorski – District Health Department #10
Members
- Paul Bock – Munson Healthcare
- Kelly Brittain – Blue Cross Blue Shield Michigan
- Angie Bruning – AMA ESD Great Start Collaborative
- Savanah Cool – Great Start Collaborative & Parent Coalition
- Christina Dean – Munson Healthcare
- Kelsey Fordyce – Grand Traverse County Health Department
- Rose Goyings – Michigan Meridian
- Corey Hebner – Michigan State Police
- Timothy Hudson – University of Michigan & Michigan Opioid Collaborative
- Susan Johnson – Networks Northwest
- Stacey Kaminski – Northern Lakes Community Mental Health
- Grayson Lewis – Northern Michigan Substance Abuse Services
- Heather Luttrell – Northwest Michigan Works Association
- Pam Lynch – Harm Reduction Michigan
- Jenny Mickelson – Wexford–Missaukee Intermediate School District
- Gerald Morris – Project Unity for Life
- Suzanne Prentice – Live Well Kalkaska Substance Free Coalition/CHS
- Lauren Reed – Grand Traverse County Drug Free Coalition
- Gabe Rheaume – Meridian Health
- Chelsea Rossow – District Health Department #10
- Jody Scholl – North Country Community Mental Health
- Nicole Schultz – Wexford Missaukee Manistee Great Start Collaborative
- Aaron Shaner – Munson Healthcare
- Audrey Sharp – Friendship Community Center of Suttons Bay
- Shawna Shelton – Wexford-Missaukee Public Defenders Office
- Sharon Vreeland – Catholic Human Services
- Laura Wagner – Alcona Health Center
- Carrie Ziegler – Catholic Human Services
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 below.
- Access the resources found on the Shatterproof website to take action against stigma in your workplace and the broader community.
