Stigma, Law Enforcement, and the Justice System

More than 20 million Americans struggle with substance misuse, and people who use drugs (PWUD) are highly stigmatized. Stigma affects PWUD’s decisions to seek help and harms their psychological well-being. Ultimately, stigma against PWUD may negatively affect overall public health and criminal justice outcomes. In this session, two presentations will discuss this problem and potential solutions.

The first presentation will address stigma related to people with substance use disorder (SUD) who have been involved in the criminal justice system. Presenters will summarize findings from a series of interviews with justice and public safety stakeholders about stigma-reduction efforts in justice settings. This will include discussions of successes and opportunities and conclude with a set of recommendations. Presenters also will incorporate the recommendations made by persons with lived experiences with the justice system.

The second presentation will discuss that stigma may negatively affect how law enforcement encounters PWUD. Training on mental health (e.g., CIT training) and SUD is a possible solution, but stigma may persist to some extent. Presenters surveyed hundreds of police officers on their knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes about PWUD and responses, including treatment and harm reduction strategies. They explored what shapes decision-making and behavior towards PWUD. Presenters will share their survey findings and offer ways to potentially mitigate stigma against PWUD.