How Language Impacts Substance Use Stigma Across the Substance Use Health Spectrum
We’re investigating how stigmatizing attitudes shift across the Substance Use Health spectrum—from individuals who do not use substances to those who do, including those with substance use disorders. Using a factorial vignette design based on everyday scenarios (e.g., being pulled over, workplace drug testing), we explore how language describing a person's relationship to substances influences public attitudes, beliefs, and behaviours. Given that stigma is one of the biggest barriers to seeking help, our goal is to better understand its nuances across the spectrum and identify language-based strategies to reduce stigma and promote help-seeking.
Exploring the Neural Underpinnings of Substance Use Stigma
Traditional stigma research has relied largely on self-report measures, which capture only part of the picture. To advance this work, we’re developing an EEG-based task to investigate the neural activity underlying stigmatizing attitudes toward substance use. By drawing on insights from neuroscience research on race, gender, and sexuality, this study aims to establish a more objective, valid, and reliable way to measure stigma, moving us closer to understanding its mechanisms and real-world impact.