Summary
Project Summary/Abstract Rural communities bear a disproportionate burden of opioid and stimulant use, yet many individuals face challenges engaging in and sustaining treatment. Stigmas surrounding substance use disorder (SUD) and medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) pose substantial obstacles to both engagement in care and achieving optimal treatment outcomes, such as retention and sustained recovery. Internalized stigma, in particular, has been linked to a higher likelihood of overdose. Patients in rural areas describe internalized SUD and MOUD stigmas as significant obstacles to recov
