Background/Objectives: Social support from family, friends, and others promotes retention in treatment, longer abstinence, and other positive outcomes for those in substance use treatment. Social support is especially critical during methadone treatment for opioid use disorder, due to stigmatization of this treatment modality (Cooper & Nielsen, 2017). Little is known about social support for individuals receiving methadone in rural and small urban communities. This study examines factors associated with social support among adults receiving methadone treatment from a healthcare provider serving rural and small urban communities in Michigan.
Methods: Adults (N=267) were recruited at a methadone clinic to complete a web-based survey. Social support was assessed with the Social Support for Recovery (Laudet et al., 2000) and Friends’ Support for Recovery (Humphreys et al., 1999) scales. Multiple regression was used to examine the association between social support and demographic variables, substance use, and stigma/shame (e.g. feelings of shame related to receiving methadone, frequency of hearing negative comments about methadone).
Results: The sample was 59.6% female, 40.4% male; 85.0% White, 15.0% person of color. Mean age was 38.51 years (SD = 9.95). Half (48.3%) misused opioids in the past year. Male gender, feelings of shame, and the frequency of hearing negative comments about methadone were inversely associated with recovery-specific support. Past-year shame and the frequency of hearing negative comments about methadone were inversely associated with support from friends.
Conclusions: Clients with stronger feelings of shame and who more frequently heard negative comments about methadone may also have lower levels of social support. These clients may be particularly vulnerable and need additional supports to maintain recovery. Interventions designed to enhance social support among individuals in methadone treatment may want to address shame and internal stigma. Those with higher levels of shame may benefit from interventions that address this feeling.
