A Statewide Campaign to Reduce Substance Use Disorder Stigma

December 02, 2024

The Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) recently announced significant progress in its four-year campaign to reduce the stigma surrounding substance use disorder (SUD).

The campaign—Life Unites Us— launched during 2020 to spread stories of recovery for patients with SUD and their families.

“The hard truth is that stigma still stops people from reaching out and getting treatment, and that must change,” said  Dr. Latika Davis-Jones, DDAP secretary. “Every move we make with Life Unites Us is guided by that principle.”

Here’s what you need to know:

• Key focus:  The campaign aims to change the conversation around addiction, showing how addiction impacts people from all walks of life and is treatable.
• Campaign reach:  The campaign provided almost two million Pennsylvanians with information and messaging to help reduce the stigma around addiction and show that recovery is “not only possible, it's probable.”
• By the numbers:  Nearly 75 percent of respondents who viewed the campaign agreed that the opioid epidemic is a serious problem; that’s compared to nearly 61 percent of respondents who did not view the campaign.
• Background:  The statewide campaign is funded by a federal grant and is part of DDAP’s ongoing efforts to reduce the stigma surrounding SUD. View this interactive dashboard with additional information.
• Quotable:  “Results from our statewide surveys show that the campaign is effectively reducing stigma and fostering a supportive environment for those seeking treatment and recovery,” said Dr. Weston Kensinger, director, Douglas W. Pollock Center for Addiction Outreach and Research. 

Additional information from DDAP about the campaign is available online.