# Determining the Feasibility and Acceptability of a Novel Stigma Resistance Text Message Intervention for People who Use Drugs

> **NIH NIH F31** · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · 2024 · $17,597

## Abstract

Project Summary
Nearly 850,000 Americans have died from overdose in the past two decades. Stigma remains an under-
addressed central barrier to ending the drug epidemic. Substance use stigma reduces treatment and harm
reduction utilization among people who use drugs (PWUD) and is associated with increased drug use,
depression, social isolation, and numerous other psychosocial indicators of healthy functioning. Though
interventions focused on education and social contact have proven successful in reducing stigmatizing
attitudes in the public, much less is known about how to intervene on self-stigma, the negative feelings PWUD
have about their drug use. Developing strategies for PWUD to cope with and resist stigma may promote quality
of life and reduce overdose in this population. Stigma resistance is a promising approach that promotes
resilience through self-empowerment and positive identity formation. In line with NIDA’s priorities of reducing
stigma and developing recovery support strategies, the goal of this application is to develop and evaluate a
stigma resistance text message intervention for PWUD. Nested within the NIDA-funded Ohio Opioid Project
(UG3/UH3DA044822), the specific aims of the proposal are to: 1) Identify PWUD self-stigma subgroups and
describe associated demographic, health, and drug use risk factors among rural PWUD in an eight-state multi-
site cohort using latent class analysis; 2) identify stigma-related attitudes and beliefs and text message content
and delivery preferences through iterative elicitation interviews with 20 rural Ohio PWUD; 3) develop a four-
week automated daily text message stigma resistance intervention; and 4) evaluate the feasibility,
acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of the intervention in a sample of 30 rural Ohio PWUD in active
use. An iterative convergent mixed-methods design informed by health communication and behavioral health
theories will guide the development of interactive messages that are hypothesized to increase stigma
resistance and reduce self-stigma. This proposal will lay the groundwork for a self-stigma intervention and
provide further evidence for text messaging as a cost-effective, impactful modality for engaging this hard-to-
reach population. Alongside the planned research, the applicant proposes training that will enhance his
theoretical understanding of stigma, advance his quantitative analysis skills, strengthen his competence in
health communication strategies, and build his communication record through scholarly presentations and
publications. Under the expert mentorship of co-sponsor Drs. Vivian Go and William Miller and other
collaborators, this research and training plan will contribute to the applicant’s career trajectory as an
independent mixed-methods substance use and stigma researcher.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10833023
- **Project number:** 5F31DA058452-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL
- **Principal Investigator:** Adams Longstreet Sibley
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $17,597
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-04-24 → 2024-08-19

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10833023

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10833023, Determining the Feasibility and Acceptability of a Novel Stigma Resistance Text Message Intervention for People who Use Drugs (5F31DA058452-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10833023. Licensed CC0.

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