Despite better education and access to care, the majority of U.S. adults still demonstrate high levels of addiction stigma. A new report from Shatterproof, titled Shatterproof Addiction Stigma Index, shows that 74 percent of Americans don't believe a person with a substance use disorder (SUD) is experiencing a chronic medical illness.  

There are nearly 49 million people in the U.S. aged 12 years and older who are living with SUDs. Meanwhile, less than 5 percent of people who need addiction treatment will ever receive it, making this the nation's most urgent public health issue, according to experts. 

The survey found that the stigma associated with SUDs has created barriers to care and acceptance, with 45 percent of respondents reporting they are unwilling to move next door to a person with SUD.

"Stigma is pervasive and is silently destroying our communities. The primary purpose of the 2024 Shatterproof Addiction Stigma Index report is to humanize addiction, bring awareness to the devastating impacts of stigma, and urge our country to take collective action to reduce addiction-related stigma over time," said Courtney McKeon, senior vice president of the National Stigma Initiative, Shatterproof. 

"Societies take time to change, and this movement to end addiction stigma is going to take a sustained and concerted effort. When we seek to understand and show compassion to those around us, we help create environments where people who use substances and people with substance use disorder feel supported in their journeys to navigate their medical condition," McKeon said.

Additionally, 47 percent of respondents said they are unwilling to have a person with SUD as a close friend. Meanwhile, 43 percent of respondents said that they believe that medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) are simply substituting one drug addiction for another.

The study did find that some attitudes are changing towards SUDs. Nearly three in four respondents said they agree that fentanyl testing strips should be free and available as a key tool in preventing drug-related fatalities. 

The majority of respondents also felt that more health care providers should offer MOUD, a treatment for opioid use disorder so that they are easily accessible. They also believe that MOUD is an effective treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD). A similar number of respondents felt that treatment strategies are more effective than prison sentences for drug-related, non-violent crimes. 

More adults are also comfortable with being a part of the solution, with 71 percent of respondents supporting carrying naloxone (also known as Narcan), which is a medicine that rapidly reverses drug-related overdose symptoms and mitigates fatality.

Shatterproof recommends that people seek out information about SUD, to reduce the stigma associated with the disease. This will improve the chances of properly identifying and responding to an overdose. The organization also encourages people to share their stories, noting that 54 percent of Americans know someone with SUD.