MAARC’s Survey Research Core, under the direction of NORC at the University of Chicago, seeks to track dynamic changes in public opinion related to substance use disorders (SUDs), criminal legal involvement (CLI), stigma towards SUDs and CLI, and related public health opportunities and challenges. Public opinion surveys offer a critical avenue for tracking the pervasive stigma surrounding people who use drugs. Understanding stigma across regions and demographics can inform targeted stigma-reduction interventions, ultimately promoting more effective approaches to addiction treatment and support. In this study, NORC will 1) gather and translate insights from the field for incorporation into surveys and effective dissemination of results to a broad group of policymakers, practitioners and collaborators; and 2) conduct two national cross-sectional surveys (target n=1100 each) using NORC’s AmeriSpeak panel to assess public opinion on policies and practices related to SUDs, overdose, and CLI involvement over time, geographic areas, and subpopulations, including those most impacted by these problems. 

Data collected through these surveys will provide important context for understanding national trends and the evolution of public opinion on SUDs over time, helping policymakers align strategies with public opinion and evidence-informed practices to mitigate the overdose crisis and advance public health.