HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania’s Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP), in collaboration with Penn State Harrisburg’s Douglas W. Pollock Center for Addiction Outreach and Research, The Public Good Projects (PGP), and Shatterproof, has recently unveiled findings from the third year of its groundbreaking campaign, Life Unites Us. The initiative aims to dismantle the stigma surrounding substance use disorder (SUD) through an evidence-based approach.
“Stigma continues to be a formidable obstacle preventing individuals from seeking or even discussing treatment for substance use disorder,” said DDAP Secretary Dr. Latika Davis-Jones. She added that it’s heartening to see the campaign influence attitudes towards opioid use disorder (OUD) treatments, harm reduction strategies, and the overall perception of individuals battling addiction.
Launched in September 2020, Life Unites Us leverages social media to share personal stories of people living with SUD and their families. The campaign also conducts webinars offering tools and information to combat stigma and maintains an interactive dashboard tracking its progress.
In its third year, the campaign reached over four million Pennsylvanians with its stigma-reducing messages. Over 300 individuals in recovery and their family members participated by recording testimonials, which were disseminated via the campaign’s website and social media platforms. The initiative also hosted six webinars on various topics related to stigma reduction, attracting over 700 attendees. Furthermore, the campaign fostered relationships with more than 180 community partner organizations.
A survey conducted three years into the campaign indicated positive shifts in attitudes towards OUD. Respondents expressed increased willingness to cohabit and maintain friendships with individuals struggling with OUD. There was also a heightened readiness to provide naloxone to friends and family of those with OUD and acceptance towards having opioid treatment centers in their neighborhoods.
Some key findings from the survey include:
- An impressive 89% of respondents who viewed the campaign agreed that effective treatments for opioid addiction exist, compared to 76% of respondents who hadn’t viewed the campaign.
- Knowledge about fentanyl test strips was higher among campaign viewers, with 85% having heard of them, compared to 60% among those who hadn’t seen the campaign.
- A significant 72% of respondents who had seen the campaign felt confident they would know how to help a friend or family member struggling with opioids, as opposed to 58% of those who hadn’t viewed the campaign.
As it enters its fourth year, Life Unites Us aims to amplify diverse community voices and expand its messaging to cover emerging topics like harm reduction tools such as fentanyl and xylazine test strips.
The campaign, funded by federal grants, forms an integral part of DDAP’s ongoing efforts to reduce the stigma associated with SUD. For more details about Life Unites Us and ways to participate, visit LifeUnitesUs.com. As the campaign continues to evolve and expand, it serves as a beacon of hope, shedding light on the realities of substance use disorder and fostering understanding and acceptance across Pennsylvania.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and Microsoft Start.