Addiction Stigma Among Mental Health Professionals and Medical Students in Egypt

Objectives: The stigma toward substance use disorders is different from other health conditions, it complicates efforts for social acceptance of patients. Health care providers may hold negative beliefs about addiction patients, that is, that they overuse system resources, fail to adhere to recommended care, abuse the system through drug-seeking and diversion. Therefore, this study was set to compare addiction stigma among psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, and medical students, and to test whether stigma varies according to the abused substance (alcohol, cannabinoids, heroin, and tramadol). Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 467 subjects (351 graduating medical students, 65 psychiatric nurses, and 51 psychiatrists). Mental health professionals worked in the Department of Neuropsychiatry in the University Hospital, or Ministry of Health Hospital, or Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Centre. All consenting participants were subjected to questionnaires to assess stigma: Level of Familiarity, Perceived Dangerousness, Fear, and Social Distance with substance use disorder patients. Results: It was found that stigma was significantly lower (P<0.05) toward cannabinoids, whereas it was significantly higher toward heroin (P<0.01). Stigma was significantly higher (P<0.01) among medical students, whereas it was significantly lower (P<0.01) among psychiatrists and nurses working in Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Center and significantly (P<0.01) decreased with more years of experience. Conclusions: Interventions aimed at reducing stigma related to substance use disorders should be started from medical school. Contact-based training and education programs targeting medical students, psychiatrists, and other members of the treatment team including nurses, psychologists, and rehabilitation specialists are imperative.