We act like substance use is something only bad people do.
The truth? A lot of people use drugs. Some experiment. Some party. Some numb pain. Most don’t become addicted but the ones who do are the ones we shame.
Stigma tells people with addiction that they have a character defect. That they’re weak. That addiction is a choice and relapse means failure. That if they really loved their families, they’d just stop.That if they haven’t gotten better yet, they just don’t want it bad enough.
Stigma fuels things like tough love—encouraging distance when what people really need is connection. Shame doesn’t heal people, love does. Love doesn’t mean chaos-it means compassion with boundaries. We’re not here to enable addiction. We’re here to end the silence around it. We’re here to educate, empower, and show another way.
It’s okay to change your mind. It’s okay to open your mind. It’s okay to unlearn some things and to grow beyond what you were taught. You can keep recovering your way—just be open to others doing the same. Compassion isn’t weakness and recovery isn’t one-size-fits-all.
Let’s redefine recovery. Let’s break the cycle. Let’s save some lives.
“Are you open to something Brother?”
LET’S TALK ABOUT STIGMA SURROUNDING SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER (SUD)
Stigma surrounding Substance Use Disorder (SUD) is the biggest barrier to change and fuels the crisis we are desperately trying to end.
It’s the reason people don’t reach out for help.
It’s the reason families suffer in silence.
It’s the reason we don’t have the funding, resources, or policies needed to save lives.
It’s the reason people don’t feel worthy of a better life.
It’s the reason people don’t take the medication they need to get better.
And it’s the reason people are DYING.
We can’t change the outcome if we don’t change the narrative. Substance Use Disorder is not a moral failure-it’s a complex, life-stealing disease. Until we start seeing people as people instead of statistics or stereotypes, things will never change, and we will continue to lose people like my brother, Thomas Alexander McConatha.
It’s time to END THE STIGMA. Lives depend on it.
How do we change the narrative?
Use person-first language. Instead of saying “addict,” say “a person with Substance Use Disorder.” Words matter.
Educate, don’t judge. SUD is a disease, not a choice. Learn the science behind it and share that knowledge.
Recognize that recovery is not one-size-fits-all. There are multiple paths to healing, including therapy, 12 Step programs, peer support, harm reduction, and medication-assisted treatment (MAT)-all of which can be life-saving. Recovery looks different for everyone, and every step forward matters.
Support harm reduction. Narcan, fentanyl test strips, and medication-assisted treatment save lives. Education plus compassion saves lives and recovery is only possible if people stay alive.
Advocate for better policies. We need more funding for treatment, mental health care, and recovery support—not more punishment and shame.
Lead with compassion. No one heals in isolation. Love, understanding, and community change lives.
This is not about replacing accountability-it’s about accountability with compassion. People don’t get better when they are shamed, punished, or discarded. They get better when they are given the support and tools to heal.
Ending stigma starts with us. Let’s change the conversation and save lives.
MAT Misunderstood: Myth vs. Fact
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) uses FDA-approved medications like buprenorphine (Suboxone), methadone, or naltrexone, alongside counseling and support, to treat opioid use disorder. Despite decades of research, many people still believe MAT isn’t “real” recovery. That stigma is keeping people from life-saving treatment and it’s costing lives. Here are a few myths about MAT.
MYTH: MAT is just trading one drug for another.
FACT: Buprenorphine and methadone do not get people high. They stabilize brain chemistry, reduce cravings, and help people function normally. In reality they are trading a drug that could kill them, for one that could save them.
MYTH: MAT isn’t real recovery.
FACT: According to NIDA, people on MAT are 66% less likely to die from opioid-related causes than those not receiving medication. That’s recovery. Unfortunately, because of stigma many people hide the fact that they take medication or thefeel pressured to taper off too soon putting them at serious risk for relapse, overdose and death.
MYTH: People on MAT are still addicted.
FACT: Addiction is about loss of control and continued use despite harm. MAT restores control. It helps people return to work, care for families, and live full lives.
MYTH: You have to get off MAT to be clean.
FACT: Recovery is not one-size-fits-all. For some, staying on MAT long-term is the safest and most effective path and that’s valid.
MYTH: MAT enables drug use.
FACT: MAT reduces relapse, overdose, disease transmission, and criminal activity. It’s a tool that helps people stop using, not an excuse to continue.
THE REALITY:
MAT is one of the most effective, evidence-based tools we have to fight the opioid crisis yet stigma still keeps too many people from accessing it. It’s time we stop the judgment and start supporting every path to recovery.
Want to dig deeper? Here are some great resources to learn more about MAT (Medication Assisted Treatment)
Whether you’re in recovery, love someone who is, or just want to understand the facts—these trusted resources break it all down.
SAMHSA – Medication-Assisted Treatment Overview
Covers the basics of MAT, types of medications, how it works, and where to find treatment.
samhsa.gov/medication-assisted-treatment
CDC – MAT and Opioid Use Disorder
Explains the public health impact of MAT, how it reduces overdose deaths, and its effectiveness in long-term recovery.
cdc.gov/drugoverdose/featured-topics/mat.html
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
In-depth research and stats on how MAT helps with brain stabilization, relapse prevention, and harm reduction.
nida.nih.gov/publications/medications-to-treat-opioid-addiction
Shatterproof – MAT Resource Center
Great for families and advocates. Helps explain how MAT fits into the recovery journey with real-world stories.
Partnership to End Addiction – MAT Myths vs Facts
Clear, readable breakdown of common misconceptions about MAT.
drugfree.org/article/medication-assisted-treatment-mat/
