How affected family members communicate about their loved one’s non-medical opioid use

Family members of people who misuse opioids frequently experience stigma due to their association with non-medical opioid use (NMOU). Stigma may affect how family members communicate about NMOU and seek social support. Guided by communication privacy management theory, this study sought to understand how affected family members (AFMs) communicate about NMOU within and outside of the immediate family. In-depth interviews were conducted with 34 adults with an immediate relative with NMOU. Qualitative analyses utilized a common iterative approach. Findings identified complex dialectical tensions that families traverse in both wanting to conceal stigmatizing information while simultaneously wanting to disclose information to engage support for themselves during stressful experiences. Strategies to resolve this tension included focusing on the good, functional updates, and moving from closed to open communication boundaries. Treatment for individuals with NMOU should engage families and assist with the resolution of communication privacy management tensions.