The Role of Stigma in the Opioid Crisis – and How to Break It

When we treat addiction like a moral failure, we push people into silence—and silence can be deadly.

Many still see addiction as a "choice," but we know better. Addiction is a disease, and like any other disease, it needs compassion, treatment, and support—not shame.

Stigma keeps people from:

• Asking for help

• Carrying Narcan

• Talking about their loss

• Getting mental health support

If we want to end this epidemic, we have to start with empathy.

Start by:

• Using language like “person with a substance use disorder” instead of “addict”

• Listening without judgment

• Sharing real stories—it humanizes the issue

You never know who might be silently struggling. Let’s break the silence—and the stigma.