Drug use, overdose, and addiction has skyrocketed in the past twenty years (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020). Negative stigma towards addiction, or otherwise known as substance use disorder (SUD), has only increased since President Nixon declared the "war on drugs" in 1971 (National Public Radio, 2007). Negative public stigma of SUD creates barriers for treatment for those who are suffering, continuing to exacerbate the stigma surrounding SUD. To understand ways to reduce stigma surrounding SUD, this study will look at narrative persuasion through transportation theory to better understand the power of stories and stories of recovery as a method to reduce stigma surrounding SUD among community members. In addition to examining narrative persuasion literature, 21 semi-structured interviews from community stakeholder groups in Virginia's Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services region 3, were conducted. To further understand the content in the stakeholder interviews, a qualitative thematic analysis using inductive themes was conducted to determine common themes surrounding substance use disorder, stigma, and ways to reduce stigma surrounding substance use disorder through narrative persuasion. Based on participant interviews, community stakeholders hold negative perceptions of those with SUD based on personal and professional experiences but believe that positive personal narratives of SUD and recovery can reduce public stigma towards those who suffer from the disorder. / Master of Arts / Drug use, overdose, and addiction has skyrocketed in the past twenty years (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020). Negative stigma towards addiction, or otherwise known as substance use disorder (SUD), has risen since President Nixon declared the "war on drugs" in 1971 (National Public Radio, 2007). Negative public stigma of SUD creates barriers for treatment for those who are suffering, continuing to worsen the stigma surrounding SUD. To understand ways to reduce stigma surrounding SUD, this study will look at persuasive storytelling through transportation theory to better understand the power of stories and stories of recovery as a method to reduce stigma surrounding SUD among community members. In addition to examining narrative persuasion literature, 21 interviews from various community members in region 3 of Virginia were conducted. To further understand the content in the participant interviews, a thematic analysis was conducted to determine common themes and patterns surrounding substance use disorder, stigma, and ways to reduce stigma surrounding substance use disorder through persuasive storytelling. Based on participant interviews, community stakeholders hold negative perceptions of those with SUD through personal and professional experiences but believe that positive personal narratives of SUD and recovery can reduce public stigma towards those who suffer from the disorder.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VTETD/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/109684 |
| Date | 15 April 2022 |
| Creators | Maher, Emily Therese |
| Contributors | Communication, Holz, Adrienne, Hosig, Kathryn Wright, Tedesco, John C. |
| Publisher | Virginia Tech |
| Source Sets | Virginia Tech Theses and Dissertation |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | ETD, application/pdf |
| Rights | In Copyright, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
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