“Deepest in the shadows is the way stigma that gets expressed, overtly or covertly, in policies and programs to deal with the opioid crisis. Whether we are trying to bring more people into treatment, insure that opioid reversal drugs are available and used in the case of an overdose, or expand addiction treatment and recovery services in the community, so-called structural stigma may be the number one problem we face. Structural stigma consolidates and sustains stigma through the cultural norms, institutional practices and policies that constrain the opportunities and wellbeing of people addicted to opioids and provide a reinforcing context for stigma when practiced by individuals.”
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