Stigma Reduction Strategy
Substance use stigma impacts the health and mental well-being of people impacted by substance use. Stigma may result in decreased use of services, poorer quality of services received, and concealment of difficulties with substance use.
Strategy Development
Reducing substance use stigma is a priority for the KFL&A Community Drug Strategy. Community partners are working together to develop a suite of initiatives solely focused on stigma reduction.
This strategy is centered on contact-based education provided by people with lived and living experience of substance use, their friends, and family members.
Key initiatives include:
-
The Support Not Stigma campaign
-
Resource development
The strategy is scheduled to be implemented in 2023.
Support Not Stigma Campaign
On International Overdose Awareness Day (August 31, 2023), the Support Not Stigma campaign officially launched! Find out what you can do to make Kingston a kinder place. Visit SupportNotStigma.ca:
-
To hear from seven local storytellers share their experience with substance use stigma.
-
To access resources and learn more about substance use stigma and other topics.
Thank you to our partners and funders!
Stigma and education subcommittee
The stigma and education group is a sub-committee of the Community Drug Strategy.
Representatives from across sectors in KFL&A collaborate to:
-
Reframe substance use as a health issue.
-
Increase knowledge among service providers and general public of how stigma negatively impacts health and wellbeing and acts as a barrier to accessing supports and services for people who use substances.
-
Increase access to supports and services among people who use substances by reducing stigma among service providers and the general public.