Understanding the Impact of Stigma on Addiction Treatment

Learn how to provide patient-centred care

Stigma negatively affects access to care and the quality of treatment received by patients with a substance use disorder (SUD).

On this two-week course, you’ll explore the stigma surrounding addiction and how our society affects public perception through its approach to the disease.

You’ll then learn how to reduce stigma and provide individualised, patient-centred care by viewing SUD through the lens of other chronic relapsing illnesses.

As a healthcare provider in addiction medicine, you have a responsibility to educate yourself and others about the science of evidence-based treatment for SUD. This knowledge will help you foster appropriate attitudes and a sense of professional commitment to treating patients with SUD.

Explore how stigmatising language affects those with SUD

You’ll learn how to identify common stigmatising language, and how these words can negatively influence a healthcare providers’ perception of those with a substance use disorder.

You’ll also explore the impact of this stigma on the patients with SUD, especially as a deterrent to seeking or continuing treatment.

Learn to foster appropriate attitudes with the American Society of Addiction Medicine

With a solid understanding of the impact of stigma, you’ll learn how to eliminate stigmatising language and begin to foster more positive attitudes towards treating SUD.

Learning from the experts at The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), you’ll have a deeper understanding of how to provide better quality care for patients with addiction.

This course is designed for those who treat patients with addiction.

It is best suited for those who are new to addiction medicine, such as primary care physicians, clinicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and behavioral health specialists.

Develop your understanding of addiction medicine even further with these courses from the American Society of Addiction Medicine:

• A Survey of Substance Use Disorder
• The Neurobiology of Addiction

This course is designed for those who treat patients with addiction.

It is best suited for those who are new to addiction medicine, such as primary care physicians, clinicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and behavioral health specialists.

Develop your understanding of addiction medicine even further with these courses from the American Society of Addiction Medicine:

• A Survey of Substance Use Disorder
• The Neurobiology of Addiction

• Demonstrate understanding of the definition of stigma and its effect on the treatment of patients with substance use disorder.
• Explore treatment inequities among marginalized groups.
• Discuss the types of stigma and how they interact with one another to impact patient treatment.
• Identify examples of commonly used language that is stigmatizing to patients seeking treatment.
• Explore ways to eliminate stigmatizing language in your practice or clinical setting.
• Demonstrate understanding of how to incorporate person-first language into your practice or clinical setting.