Honor Norms Predict Lower Support for Opioid Harm Reduction Policies in the U.S.

Harm reduction services are empirically based strategies aimed at counteracting drug overdoses and other drug-related harms. Despite the various harms associated with heroin use as well as other drug use, the accessibility of these services varies across the United States. In this study, we explored the role honor norms might contribute to reduced support for harm reduction programs in the United States. We conducted a web-based survey of a sample of adults living in the United States (N = 376) that assessed honor norms, controllability beliefs about heroin use disorder, and support for harm reduction programs. Overall, we found higher levels of honor endorsement to be linked with lower support for harm reduction programs. Additionally, controllability beliefs explained the honor-support link for most of the harm reduction programs. Our findings suggest that acquiring public support and enacting policies for these types of services may be difficult in regions of the United States permeated with honor culture.