University of Georgia study finds mental health workers stigmatize opioid patients

A University of Georgia study surveyed 1,600 adults across 13 Southern states and found that mental health workers and first responders hold significantly higher stigmatizing attitudes toward people with opioid use disorder than the general public. Participants more often agreed with statements blaming patients for their situation, viewing medication‑assisted treatment such as methadone as “replacing one addiction with another,” and expressing negative judgments.

Lead author Virginia Brown said the stigma creates a mental barrier that discourages individuals from seeking help, noting that in 2024 more than 82,000 Americans died from opioid overdoses and millions live with the disorder. The researchers warn that such attitudes could affect clinical decisions, such as prescribing effective treatments, and recommend targeted training for mental‑health professionals to reduce bias and improve care.