(1324) Implementation of Opioid Use Disorder Stigma Education Through Multi-branched Approach

Objectives: The objective of this innovative practice report is to describe a three-branched, student-led program to decrease stigma surrounding opioid use disorder (OUD) among student pharmacists, healthcare teams, and community members in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Students from an American Pharmacists Association Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP) chapter promoted the multi-branched approach to reduce OUD stigma in their communities.

Methods: A university chapter of ASP collaborated with a local health department, middle and high schools, and healthcare providers to deliver information about OUD. The three branches of the program included: (1) an anti-stigma social media campaign; (2) educating local middle and high school students; and (3) providing resources and leading conversations about OUD with patient care teams.

The anti-stigma social media campaign partnered with the Pennsylvania nonprofit Life Unites Us. Life Unites Us is an online library of stories from Pennsylvanians with OUD experiences, helping viewers humanize and destigmatize addiction. Student pharmacists reposted stories to their personal social media accounts to reach a broader audience. Story posts and shares were tracked to determine student participation.

To reach middle and high school students, pharmacy students presented CVS OneChoice presentations in health classes and participated in schools’ annual wellness fairs. These presentations taught students about addiction and stigma. The outreach impact was measured through student pharmacists’ reflections on the perception of presentations and number of students reached.

Outreach to patient care teams in practice involved pharmacy students visiting student internship sites, introductory pharmacy practice experience sites, and service learning sites around Allegheny County. Students provided stigma reduction resources including: educational podcasts, destigmatizing language guides, and information about county services. The impact was measured through a survey addressing site locations, the number of healthcare members reached, and significant conversation reflections.

Funding for this program was provided in-part by a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Overdose Data to Action grant.

Results: A student pharmacist APhA-ASP chapter successfully led a 3-branched public health approach aimed at reducing stigma surrounding opioid use disorder among student pharmacists, healthcare teams, and community members in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Student pharmacists became better prepared to educate others about opioid use disorders and its associated stigma.

From branch 1, 18 student pharmacists participated in the anti-stigma social media campaign throughout the event. There were 160 reposts of stories from the Life Unites Us videobank.

From branch 2, seven student pharmacists participated in the outreach programs to educate local middle and high school students. Through the CVS OneChoice presentations and wellness fairs, a total of 308 middle and high school students across the county learned about OUD and treatment. Student pharmacist reflections on the events emphasized the ability of grade school students to identify signs of drug addiction, resources for prevention, and stigma surrounding treatment.

From branch 3, student pharmacists visited 80 community sites across Allegheny County and reached a total of 287 site employees including: technicians, pharmacists, and healthcare providers. Student reflections of conversations revealed that the discussions resulted in: (1) a deeper understanding of stigma surrounding substance use disorders and; (2) community-based teams leading intervention conversations for opioid use disorders.

Conclusions: This program highlights the impact student-led public health projects can have on communities. Results from conversations with community members throughout the county revealed the need for substance use disorder education and the importance of teaching about de-stigmatization.

The local pharmacy school has continued these efforts, with the “Dean’s Theme” of the year to have all student organizations focus key projects on Substance Use Disorders. Student-led de-stigmatization campaigns, combined with public health funding, can make a notable impact on the larger communities they are part of.