Contact reduces substance use stigma through bad character attributions, especially for U.S. health care professionals.

Stigma Toward Substance Dependence: Causes, Consequences, and Potential Interventions

“…Health-care professionals may already have higher mental health literacy than the general population and thus may not benefit from additional education. In fact, a recent national survey found that health-care professionals are more likely to attribute SUD to biological factors (e.g., genetics)—suggesting better literacy—but have similar levels of SUD stigma as the general population (Hamilton et al, 2023). Meta-analyses have found that psychoeducation is effective in reducing mental illness stigma for adolescents but is less effective for adults (P.…”

“…The few studies examining the effect of contact on SUD stigma have similarly measured contact via self-report, although results have been mixed. A recent national study found that previous contact reduced SUD stigma, the most pronounced effects being for health-care providers (Hamilton et al, 2023). Another study found that stigma toward opioid use disorder was lower among individuals who had previously been in contact with an individual with opioid use disorder (Gourley & Krendl, 2023).…”