Report: Impact of Stigma on People with OUD
Stigma towards people with substance use disorder is a significant barrier to access to treatment and to communities and environments that support recovery. To better understand the impact of stigma in Maine and how it can be reduced, CCSME collaborated with MCD Global Health and Hart Consulting, Inc. to complete an assessment of stigma on Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) through key informant interviews and a review of the literature.
Read the full report:
Impact of Stigma on People with OUD
Learn more about stigma and substance use disorder at the Maine SUD Learning Community
Stigma Project Inventory
In addition to the above report, through this work CCSME has begun compiling an inventory of resources and projects in Maine and nationally that are working to reduce stigma towards substance use disorder. These resources are listed in the table below. This is not a comprehensive listing of anti-stigma projects in Maine, but may provide a starting point for those looking for resources or to collaborate to achieve shared goals. To submit a project, resource or organization to the inventory below, please complete this form.
Maine Anti-Stigma Initiatives
| Initiative | Organization | Brief Description | Intended audience | Service Area | General Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Maine Addiction Recovery Initiative (WMARI) | WMARI | The Western Maine Addiction Recovery Initiative is made up of community members and professionals from many backgrounds, including social services, behavioral health, law enforcement, the legal and faith-based communities and more. We will build a collaborative, non-judgmental environment to support addiction recovery through education, advocacy, and compassionate community action. | Community | Oxford County | https://wmari.org/western-maine-addiction-recovery-initiative/ |
| SAY (Substance Affected Youth) Program | Penquis | Launched in 2019, the Substance Affected Youth (SAY) Program is an innovative program serving an often overlooked population—youth who have been affected by someone else’s opioid or other substance misuse. We use trauma-informed practices and evidence-based curricula to reduce isolation and build resilience in the young people who live in our community. | Youth | Penobscot & Piscataquis county | https://www.penquis.org/services/youth-services/ |
| Recovery and Opioid Addiction Resources (ROAR) | Kennebec Behavioral Health | ROAR is a community group of individuals with lived experience around substance use disorders who advocate for recovery supports while working to improve the lives of those seeking recovery and those who love them. | Community | Somerset County | https://www.kbhmaine.org/forms/roar/ |
| 1000 Lives Campaign | Maine Medical Association | The campaign seeks to prevent Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) deaths by implementing a set of health care site- and clinician-specific interventions to improve the treatment of substance use disorders (SUDs), with particular attention to improving treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD). The interventions will be chosen based on their ability to reduce deaths. | Healthcare | Statewide | https://mainephysicians.org/1000-lives-campaign-for-maine/ |
| ME SUD Learning Community | CCSME | Supports Prescribing Clinicians and their Teams to provide more evidence-based treatment to individuals and their families affected by Substance Use Disorders and Opioid Use Disorder (SUD/OUD) to promote recovery and reduce drug overdose deaths. The aim is to increase the number of prescribing clinicians offering evidence-based treatments and the number of patients that they serve. | Healthcare | Statewide | https://mesudlearningcommunity.org/ |
| What We Do Matters: Addressing Stigma in Health Care Toward People Who Use Substances | MaineHealth | This is a MaineHealth-produced, documentary-style video examining manifestations and impact of stigma toward people with substance use disorders when they seek health care. It includes viewpoints of patients and professionals and is aimed at all levels of health care staff. The video is ideally viewed by a group with a brief follow up discussion but can be viewed individually the group setting is not an option. The training is free and provides 1 hour of CME credit. | Healthcare | Statewide | https://www.mainehealth.org/health-care-professionals/clinical-guidelines-protocols/substance-use-disorder-clinical-guidelines |
| Know Your OPTIONS | Maine Office of Behavioral Health | The Overdose Prevention Through Intensive Outreach Naloxone and Safety (OPTIONS) initiative is a coordinated effort of the Maine Office of Behavioral Health (OBH) and other state agencies to improve the health of Mainers with substance use disorder. OPTIONS supports treatment, harm reduction and recovery, and aims to reduce the number of fatal and non-fatal drug related overdoses. | General community | Statewide | https://knowyouroptions.me/ |
| Maine Recovery Access Project (ME-RAP) | ME-RAP | The Maine Recovery Access Project (ME-RAP) is a grassroots recovery community organization led by people with lived and living experience of substance use and recovery—including family members and allies. Project Doorstep: ME-RAP Deep Canvassing Project: Using grassroots organizing tactics like door-to-door deep canvassing, Project Doorstep delivers Naloxone and life-saving education directly to our friends, neighbors, and community members. Deep canvassing is a proven community organizing method that fosters extended, nonjudgmental, and personal conversations—helping to shift perspectives on some of the most pressing issues we face. | Community | Statewide | https://www.me-rap.org/ |
| Recovery Friendly Workplace Maine | Pinetree Institute and Portland Recovery Community Center | The Recovery Friendly Workplace program recognizes employers who are committed to a cultural shift in the way organizations support individuals affected by substance use disorder (SUD). Businesses can help prevent, and respond more effectively to, substance use in the workplace, build their talent by hiring people in recovery, and reduce stigma in the workplace environment. | Businesses | Statewide | https://rfwmaine.org/ |
| Journey Magazine | Journey Enterprises | We create content that makes recovery visible in workplaces, families, and communities across Maine and beyond. | General community | Statewide | https://journey-magazine.com/ |
| Community Sharps Toolkit | Maine CDC | Toolkit to reduce stigma around syringe waste and encourage municipalities to increase opportunitites to collect syringe waste | Organizations and Municipalities | Statewide | https://www.mainepreventionstore.com/ |
| Statewide Recovery Resources | Maine OBH | Information on various SUD Recovery Resources supported through Maine DHHS | People in recovery & affected others | Statewide | https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/obh/support-services/substance-use-disorder-services/recovery-supports |
| Points North Recovery in Maine Film Series | Points North Institute | Established in 2018, Points North’s Recovery in Maine program is a statewide series of documentary film screenings that spark public discussions about substance use disorder, the recovery process, and our collective response to the opioid epidemic. | Community | Statewide | https://pointsnorthinstitute.org/recovery-in-maine/ |
| Washington County Recovery Friendly Workplace Network | Sunrise County Economic Council | Supporting workplace cultures that encourage wellness and recovery and creating connections to resources and services for employers, businesses, employees, and families | Businesses | Washington County | https://recoveryfriendlydowneast.org/ |
| Real Mainers Carry Naloxone | Healthy Acadia | Social media campaign of real Mainers in Washington County and the reasons they carry naloxone | Community | Washington County | https://healthyacadia.org/ |