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ListsMiller, Nicole M. (2022) The role of stigma, opinions on opioid use, and contact in predicting support for policies to reduce-opioid drug related deaths. In: British Psychological Society Social Psychology Conference, 5-7 Sep 2022, London. (Unpublished)
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Abstract
Background: There are several interventions to reduce opioid overdose deaths but only a few have been implemented on the island of Ireland. This study aimed to identify to what extent Social Cognitive Models of social stigma predicted policy support and if contact (as informed by Contact theory) mediates stigma and prejudice to in turn predict policy support. This knowledge will help inform campaigns to garner support for interventions to be placed into practice.
Methods: An online survey and open ended question was administered (N=472) on the island of Ireland using measures of social stigma, prejudice, opinion towards opioid use, contact and policy support (e.g. supervised injection sites, non-prescription naloxone). Hierarchical multiple regression tested whether these attitudes predicted policy support. Mediation analysis investigated how levels of familiarity indirectly predicted support through stigmatized attitudes. Thematic analysis was applied to the open-ended question data.
Findings: The final model showed that being unsympathetic towards people who are addicted to opioids predicted less policy support (β= -.18, p<.01) and disagreeing with criminalizing drug users predicted more support (β =.14, p<.05). Medium and high levels of familiarity predicted more policy support through the pathway of reduced stigma and prejudicial attitudes. Open-ended statements confirmed typical stereotypes and the role of contact to reduce stigma.
Discussion: Campaigns aimed at increasing sympathy and understanding through indirect (e.g., media) and extended contact (e.g., experiences of ingroup members with stigmatized outgroups) are advantageous to reduce stigma and help garner support for policies to get placed into practice in Ireland and internationally.
| Item Type: | Conference or Workshop Item (Speech) |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | Miller, N.M., McBride, O. (2022). The role of stigma, opinions on opioid use, and contact in predicting support for policies to reduce-opioid drug related deaths. Oral Presentation at the British Psychological Society Social Psychology Conference, London, UK (September 2022) |
| Subjects: | Psychology > Substance abuse/misuse |
| Depositing User: | Nicole M. Miller |
| Date Deposited: | 23 Jun 2023 11:52 |
| Last Modified: | 30 Aug 2023 14:33 |
| URI: | https://repository.uwl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10131 |
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