“I don't think that a medication is going to help someone long‐term stay off opioids”: Treatment and recovery beliefs of rural Vermont family members of people with opioid use disorder

• Published in: The Journal of rural health 2024-09, Vol.40 (4), p.681-688
• Main Authors: Peasley‐Miklus, Catherine E., Shaw, Julia G., Rosingana, Katie, Smith, Mary Lindsey, Sigmon, Stacey C., Heil, Sarah H., Jewiss, Jennifer, Villanti, Andrea C., Harder, Valerie S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Addictions; Adult; Aged; Analgesics, Opioid - therapeutic use; Beliefs; Dependency; Drug abuse; Drug addiction; drug therapy; Drugs; education; Families & family life; family; Family - psychology; Female; Health care; Health care industry; Health services; Humans; Interviews; Interviews as Topic - methods; Kinship networks; Male; Medical personnel; Mental health; Mental health care; Mental health services; Middle Aged; Narcotics; opioid use disorder; Opioid-Related Disorders - drug therapy; Opioid-Related Disorders - psychology; Opioids; people; qualitative; Qualitative analysis; Qualitative Research; Recovery; Rehabilitation; Relatives; Residential communities; Residential treatment; rural; Rural areas; Rural communities; rural families; rural health; Rural Population - statistics & numerical data; Social networks; Stigma; Substance use disorder; Support networks; treatment beliefs; Treatment programs; Vermont
• ISSN: 0890-765X; 1748-0361; 1748-0361
• DOI: 10.1111/jrh.12851

Purpose Few studies have addressed beliefs about treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) among family members of people with OUD, particularly in rural communities. This study examined the beliefs of rural family members of people with OUD regarding treatment, including medication for OUD (MOUD), and recovery. Methods Semi‐structured qualitative interviews were conducted with rural Vermont family members of people with OUD. Twenty family members completed interviews, and data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results Four primary themes related to beliefs about OUD treatment emerged: (1) MOUD is another form of addiction or dependency and should be used short‐term; (2) essential OUD treatment components include residential and mental health services and a strong support network involving family; (3) readiness as a precursor to OUD treatment initiation; and (4) stigma as an impediment to OUD treatment and other health care services. Conclusions Rural family members valued mental health services and residential OUD treatment programs while raising concerns about MOUD and stigma in health care and the community. Several themes (e.g., MOUD as another form of addiction, residential treatment, and treatment readiness) were consistent with prior research. The belief that MOUD use should be short‐term was inconsistent with the belief that OUD is a disease. Findings suggest a need for improved education on the effectiveness of MOUD for family members and on stigma for health care providers and community members.