This episode of the Stigma and Substance Use podcast, explores the “contagious” nature of stigma in substance use disorders (SUDs), revealing how shame and discrimination spread beyond the 45-50 million Americans with SUDs to affect an estimated 45-300 million family members. While stigma’s impact on individuals with SUDs is well-documented, this conversation spotlights how families become “stigmatized by association,” driving them “underground” and leading to isolation, delayed help-seeking, compromised mental health, strained relationships, and poorer recovery outcomes for the entire family system.
Episode release date: July 22, 2025. Register at link below.
Educational Objectives:
- Identify at least three ways stigma impacts family members of individuals with substance use disorders, including specific effects on mental/physical health, help-seeking behaviors, and family dynamics.
- Analyze how “stigma by association” creates unique barriers for families in accessing support and contributing to their loved one’s change process.
- Apply evidence-based communication strategies to reduce stigma when interacting with families affected by substance use disorders in professional or community settings.
