Community Care of West Virginia tackles stigma surrounding substance use disorder

BUCKHANNON — Substance use disorder (SUD) is a treatable chronic health condition from which people can and do recover. However, many individuals struggling with SUD hesitate to seek the treatment they need due to the stigma they face.

Recognizing this barrier, Community Care of West Virginia (CCWV) has taken significant steps to address and reduce stigma through its Rural Communities Opioid Response Program, Neo-Natal Abstinence Syndrome (RCORP-NAS) grant. This federal grant focuses on improving the area’s response to SUD, specifically for pregnant women and parenting families.

This summer, CCWV will host two “Addressing Stigma” trainings in partnership with West Virginia Prevention Solutions and St. Joseph’s Hospital. These sessions aim to raise awareness and educate various community stakeholders about the impact of stigma on individuals with substance use disorder. Last month, a training session was conducted for all staff members at St. Joseph’s Hospital, led by WV Prevention Solutions executive director Elizabeth Shahan and St. Joseph’s Hospital opioid coordinator Shelby Wilson. Another session is scheduled for local law enforcement.

Dr. Kyle Miller, a CCWV physician who works with addiction medicine patients, emphasizes the pervasive impact of stigma on individuals with SUD.

“Addiction often affects patients’ lives from every angle — school, work, home life, relationships. It’s an all-consuming process, and stigma is just another layer they have to deal with when trying to make positive changes,” he explained. “When so many aspects of your life have been affected negatively by substance use disorder, seeking treatment feels like climbing a mountain, and stigma makes that peak feel even higher.”

Dr. Miller highlighted the importance of comprehensive and compassionate treatment.

“We try to address stigma through various routes, from being mindful of our language in clinics to incorporating peer recovery support specialists,” he said. “These specialists, with their lived experience in addiction and sobriety, bring a level of relatability to the team that’s invaluable.”

Elizabeth Shahan from WV Prevention Solutions underscored the importance of the RCORP-NAS grant and the collaborative efforts to combat stigma.

“Our role as a partner on the grant is to help train and address stigma in a variety of ways, working with all people on the continuum of care — prevention, intervention, treatment, recovery — to break down barriers,” she said. “Stigma is one of the top challenges facing the mental health field today, creating significant obstacles for individuals trying to access behavioral health services.”

Shahan further explained that stigma often prevents people from reaching out for help during times of crisis.

“People may turn to negative coping skills, like substance use, to self-medicate the effects of trauma because they fear being judged for seeking support,” she said. “Our goal is to address stigma using a science-based approach, understanding the social science behind it and how it keeps people from seeking help.”

Through their concerted efforts, CCWV and its partners hope to create a more supportive environment for individuals with substance use disorder. By raising awareness and providing education, they aim to foster a community where individuals feel empowered to seek the treatment they need without fear of judgment.