Experiences of stigma within the substance using community in Richmond
| dc.contributor.author | Remedios, Daniel | |
| dc.contributor.supervisor | Cunningham, Barton | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-05-27T22:28:50Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-05-27T22:28:50Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2026 | |
| dc.degree.department | School of Public Administration | |
| dc.degree.level | Master of Arts MA | |
| dc.description.abstract | Stigma faced by individuals who use substances is known to be a barrier to treatment as well as a roadblock to the implementation of progressive programs and policies that can increase the quality of life and care received. Stigma is often cited as one of the causes of individuals using substances alone, which relates to the cause of death due to overdose. The community of Richmond is an immigrant-majority city where the added layer of cultural and immigrant stigma towards substance addiction also hinders individuals from stepping forward and discussing their own substance use journeys. This study conducted a literature review on the current research on substance use addictions, with the key points being illustrated in the conceptual framework used. Based on the literature review, a conceptual framework was created to help identify the most common impact areas in which individuals who use substances are stigmatized. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eleven people who use substances in the community of Richmond, and the interview findings were analyzed to identify key themes, which revealed that stigmatization occurs across various areas. These findings were corroborated by current research. The participants also offered their perspectives on stigma-reduction interventions across the different impact areas. Recommendations were based on themes from the literature review and participants' input. | |
| dc.description.scholarlevel | Graduate | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/1828/23949 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.rights | Available to the World Wide Web | |
| dc.subject | stigma | |
| dc.subject | addiction | |
| dc.subject | Richmond | |
| dc.title | Experiences of stigma within the substance using community in Richmond | |
| dc.type | project |