The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (NYS OASAS) is looking to “Turn the Page on Stigma” related to addiction services. The goal of the awareness campaign is to educate people about the stigma surrounding addiction services while emphasizing that there is an individual behind the disease, and that they are not defined by their addiction.
“Stigma related to addiction, among both the people impacted by this disease and the treatment itself, is one of the most pressing issues we face,” OASAS Commissioner Dr. Chinazo Cunningham said. “Addiction can affect anyone – including friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers – and it is vital that it is viewed like other chronic diseases, rather than a moral failing.”
Stigma presents significant challenges for individuals with substance use and behavioral health issues. It can prevent people from seeking or staying in treatment, accessing vital services and supports, and cause them to feel ostracized, leading to social isolation. On a community level, stigma fuels pushback against new treatment facilities, limiting access to care.
The most recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health, released last month by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), indicated that stigma is still a concern for many people who choose not to seek treatment for substance use disorder. In that survey, more than 43% of people who did not receive treatment said their reasoning was because they were worried about what people would think or say, while more than 34% said they thought bad things would happen if others knew they were in treatment, such as losing their job, home, or children.
The “Turn the Page on Stigma” campaign reminds us that everyone has a story, and we shouldn’t judge. It empowers New Yorkers to identify and eliminate stigma through person-first language, reducing blame, and promoting acceptance and inclusion.
The OASAS service system is also focused on delivering person-centered care, driven by an individual’s needs and addressing challenges related to stigma. This includes new services such as mobile medication units and additional Opioid Treatment Programs (OTPs) in underserved areas, as well as efforts to co-locate different types of treatment services in the same setting. These initiatives are designed to break down barriers that keep some people from seeking treatment, and to meet them where they are.
OASAS is also innovating care delivery by leveraging peer support. These individuals, who bring invaluable lived experiences in addiction and recovery, help to guide others through challenges and make connections to care. They play an important role in counteracting stigma against those impacted by addiction, and addiction services.
New Yorkers struggling with an addiction, or whose loved ones are struggling, can find help and hope by calling the state’s toll-free, 24-hour, 7-day-a-week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (Short Code 467369).
Available addiction treatment including crisis/detox, inpatient, residential, or outpatient care can be found on the NYS OASAS website at https://oasas.ny.gov/treatment.
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