Stigma is our biggest killer & a significant barrier to addressing addiction. ”

— VADM Jerome M. Adams, M.D., M.P.H. , Surgeon General of the U.S.

While we know all too well that substance use disorder (SUD) devastates the lives of individuals, families, and communities … so does stigma. It causes shame, ruins careers and isolates individuals and families when they most need support. But at its worst, stigma prevents treatment as well as potentially increasing the need for heroin, prescription drugs, and other substances — because the resulting shame and isolation keeps people in active addiction.

https://www.safeproject.us/resource/understanding-the-stigma-epidemic/