Fighting the Opioid Crisis with Communication: Stigma, Support, and Prevention

Cao, Xiaoxia

In this book, scholars from various fields share their insights into the role of communication in combating the American opioid crisis. The introduction provides an overview of the development of the crisis followed by a discussion of the role of communication in fighting the crisis and an overview of each chapter. Part I of the book (Chapters 2-5) addresses how the language used to frame chronic pain, opioid use disorder (OUD) and the opioid crisis by the media, healthcare professionals and the public has facilitated the formation of various types of stigmas associated with OUD and individuals with OUD and what can be done to de-stigmatize OUD and individuals with OUD. Part II of the book (Chapters 6-8) focuses on the role of communication in preventing people from misusing opioids. Chapters 6 and 7 discuss strategies that may be used to create effective anti-opioid campaigns. Given that overprescribing opioids is a major contributing factor to the opioid crisis, Chapter 8 addresses the role that academic detailing (AD)—defined as interpersonal educational outreach intervention to providers and clinicians with an emphasis on delivery and implementation of evidence-based information and practices on a specific topic (Davis et al., 2017)—plays in improving health care providers’ compliance with the CDC’s guidelines for prescribing opioids and strategies for increasing the effectiveness of AD. Part III of the book (Chapters 9-10) explores the use of communication to improve OUD treatment and the well-being of individuals with OUD. Chapter 9 highlights the importance of patient-centered communication and effective use of patient navigators to OUD treatment. Chapter 10 analyzes the effectiveness of a culturally popular 12-step self-help program for individuals with OUD utilized by Narcotics Anonymous in providing support for those with OUD and offers suggestions for improving the program. In conclusion, this book demonstrates how communication can be used to remove the barriers (e.g. stigmas associated with OUD) to ending the American opioid crisis, prevent people from developing OUD, improve OUD treatment, and provide support for individuals with OUD. It will be appealing to diverse readers such as students of communication, persuasion and psychology, and health science. It will also offer insights and recommendations that benefit campaign designers, healthcare providers, journalists, policy makers, social workers and the public alike.

Details

Published by: Palgrave Macmillan

Publication Date: 2026-12-11

Format: Hardcover

ISBN-13: 9783032311610

DOI:

Dimensions: 210cm x148cm

Pages: