An Exploratory Study of Overlapping Stigmas and Substance Use Stigma Among Women With Substance Use Histories Who are Incarcerated

Abstract

Despite the overwhelmingly negative impacts of substance use stigma, little is known about how multiple, overlapping stigmatized identities, experiences, or characteristics (henceforth stigmas) may be related to perceived substance use stigma, especially in a sample of women who are incarcerated. The current study profiled stigmas reported by women in jail with substance use histories and investigated the relationship between the number of overlapping stigmas reported and perceptions of substance use stigma. Exploratory analyses examined the relationship between each individual stigma and substance use stigma. Findings suggest that individuals who reported more stigmas reported higher substance use stigma scores. Additionally, exploratory results suggested that rurality, transactional sex, injection drug use, methamphetamine use, being diagnosed with a mood disorder, experiencing sexual abuse or assault, and child custody loss were uniquely associated with increased substance use stigma. Results are discussed in terms of implications for stigma interventions and substance use treatment engagement.