This study develops a typology of the stigma related to opioid use, showing how multiple dimensions of stigma continue to fundamentally hinder the response to the crisis.

The paper explains how public stigma is driven by stereotypes about people with opioid use disorders, such as their perceived dangerousness or perceived moral failings, which translate into negative attitudes toward people with opioid use disorders. Additionally, it explains that enacted stigma describes the behavioral manifestations of public stigma, including discrimination and social distancing. Finally, the study emphasizes that public and enacted stigma, in turn, lead to the delivery of suboptimal care and undermine access to treatment and harm reduction services.