Tackling Addiction Stigma by Working With Journalists

Last week, the Reporting on Addiction team – in partnership with the Reed College of Media at West Virginia University and WVU Health Sciences – led a discussion in Morgantown, West Virginia, with people with lived experience, addiction science experts, activists and journalists. We focused on ways we can work together to improve accuracy and empathy when reporting on addiction.

We know that journalists hold a large sway over public opinion in their communities and that they are committed to serving their communities, but reporting on addiction often unintentionally perpetuates stigma. This can result in life-threatening barriers for people who use drugs, have a substance use disorder, or are in recovery. There are barriers to improving this type of coverage that reach beyond the field of journalism itself, but if we work together, we can make change.