Advocates say the federal government can do more to address opioid use stigma
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OTTAWA — New federal government research says that stigmatizing views about opioid use disorder — unfair perceptions and disapproval of people who take these drugs — continue to be held by a significant portion of the population.
One in four respondents held stigmatizing views against people who use opioids, one in four held sympathetic views, and half held a mix of the two, with the rates holding steady since the research was first conducted in 2017.
While advocates say they are cautious about some of the research results, they agree the government can do more to reduce stigma against people who use opioids.
Eugenia Oviedo-Joekes, a professor at the University of British Columbia’s School of Public Health, says despite the limitations of the research due to its methodology, its findings could still be useful.
