@article{ref1,
title="Community attitudes toward opioid use disorder and medication for opioid use disorder in a rural Appalachian county",
journal="Journal of rural health",
year="2020",
author="Beachler, Taylor and Zeller, T. Aaron and Heo, Moonseong and Lanzillotta-Rangeley, Jennifer and Litwin, Alain H.",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="PURPOSE: To evaluate community attitudes concerning opioid use disorder (OUD) and medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in a rural community, and to plan educational initiatives to reduce stigma surrounding OUD and treatment.   METHODS: Dissemination of a 24-question survey to people living in a rural community followed by comparative analysis of survey results between 2 groups classified by recognition of OUD as a real illness.   FINDINGS: Three hundred sixty-one individuals responded. Overall, 69% agreed that OUD is a real illness. Respondents recognizing OUD as a real illness were less likely to agree that individuals with OUD are dangerous (P =.014), more likely to agree that MOUD is effective (P <.001), that individuals with OUD should have the same right to a job (P <.001), and that naloxone should be administered for every overdose every time (P =.002).   CONCLUSIONS: Significant stigma exists toward individuals with OUD in rural communities, and recognizing OUD as a real illness is associated with less stigmatizing attitudes and better understanding of MOUD. Further study should focus on how to effectively convince communities that OUD is a real illness.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0890-765X",
doi="10.1111/jrh.12503",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jrh.12503"
}