Substance use disorders and pharmacotherapies: exploring public knowledge and supportive attitudes.

Abstract

Background: Despite available and effective prevention and treatment strategies for substance use disorders (SUD), drug overdose deaths in the US remain high. Further, limited public knowledge of SUD pharmacotherapies may contribute to increased stigmatization toward SUD medications and a lack of willingness to help people with SUD.Objectives: This study evaluated knowledge and attitudes about SUD pharmacotherapies and willingness to help people with SUD among a sample of U.S. adults.Method: Participants recruited through Amazon's Mechanical Turk (N = 314; 62.1% male) completed online surveys evaluating knowledge, attitudes, and willingness to help by various demographic factors, history of substance use, and experience with someone with SUD.Results: Results revealed a significant difference in attitudes by race/ethnicity (F(1,307) = 11.85, p < .001). Participants with a personal history of substance use exhibited greater knowledge (F(1,312) = 31.94, p < .001) and willingness to help someone with a SUD (F(1,312) = 7.84, p = .005). Participants with experience with someone with a SUD also exhibited greater knowledge (F(1,311) = 19.42, p < .001) and willingness to help (F(1,311) = 13.63, p < .001).Conclusion: Results emphasize the importance of targeted education to bridge gaps in knowledge, enhance public attitudes, and promote willingness to help individuals with SUD. Utilizing public health strategies that promote empathy, willingness to help, and increase accessibility and acceptance of SUD treatment options, could be potential avenues that ultimately improve outcomes for individuals with SUD.