biostudies-literatureWalker DMNIDA NIH HHSSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services AdministrationNational Institutes of Health209276https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC10947872biostudies-literatureUnknown158<h4>Introduction</h4>To examine differences in perceptions about community stigma towards individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) between community members involved in the opioid response (i.e., coalition members) and the general public, and how community geography may moderate this relationship.<h4>Methods</h4>This study administered identical cross-sectional surveys about perceived community opioid-related stigma to two distinct populations in 66 communities participating in the HEALing Communities Study prior to the intervention period (i.e., coalition members, November 2019-January 2020; residents, March-April 2020). Linear-mixed models compared survey responses of populations, including the moderating effect of community rural/urban location.<h4>Results</h4>A total of 826 coalition members and 1131 residents completed the surveys. The study found no differences between the coalition members and residents for general perceived community opioid-related stigma. In both urban and rural communities, coalition members reported greater perceived community stigma than residents reported towards medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD), naloxone, and drug treatment as an alternative to incarceration.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Our findings suggest similar perceived community opioid-related stigma between coalition members and residents, yet differences emerge related to evidence-based practices (i.e., MOUD, naloxone, and drug treatment as an alternative to incarceration) to reduce opioid overdose deaths.<h4>Trial registration</h4>ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04111939.Journal of substance use and addiction treatmentDifferences in perceptions of community stigma towards opioid use disorder between community substance use coalition members and the general public.PMC10947872UM1 DA049415UM1 DA049412Pro00038088UM1 DA049394UM1 DA049406NCT04111939UM1 DA049417UM1DA049417Oser CBLewis NShiu-Yee KHolloway JBalvanz PHelme DWAsman KOga EADavis AKnudsen HKChen SJackson RDWalker DMStotz CLefebvre RCfalseDifferences in perceptions of community stigma towards opioid use disorder between community substance use coalition members and the general public.<h4>Introduction</h4>To examine differences in perceptions about community stigma towards individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) between community members involved in the opioid response (i.e., coalition members) and the general public, and how community geography may moderate this relationship.<h4>Methods</h4>This study administered identical cross-sectional surveys about perceived community opioid-related stigma to two distinct populations in 66 communities participating in the HEALing Communities Study prior to the intervention period (i.e., coalition members, November 2019-January 2020; residents, March-April 2020). Linear-mixed models compared survey responses of populations, including the moderating effect of community rural/urban location.<h4>Results</h4>A total of 826 coalition members and 1131 residents completed the surveys. The study found no differences between the coalition members and residents for general perceived community opioid-related stigma. In both urban and rural communities, coalition members reported greater perceived community stigma than residents reported towards medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD), naloxone, and drug treatment as an alternative to incarceration.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Our findings suggest similar perceived community opioid-related stigma between coalition members and residents, yet differences emerge related to evidence-based practices (i.e., MOUD, naloxone, and drug treatment as an alternative to incarceration) to reduce opioid overdose deaths.<h4>Trial registration</h4>ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04111939.2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Mar2026-06-02T00:00:10.369Z2025-04-04T13:11:18.411ZS-EPMC109478723814280110.1016/j.josat.2023.209276