“A Crisis Beyond Statistics”: High School Student Attitudes and Perceptions of Opioid Use & Harm Reduction Strategies in the Puget Sound Area

By: Muskan Sandhu, North Creek High School

With the rise of the synthetic opioid epidemic, thousands of people who use opioids (PWUO) struggle to receive help or find solutions to combat opioid poisoning and death. Current research shows barriers to treatment include public stigma towards PWUO, as negative support systems limit access or encouragement towards recovery. While studies have been conducted on adult perceptions of PWUO and harm-reduction strategies, attitudes of adolescents haven’t been measured to determine the best course of action for supporting struggling younger users. As a result, this study asks the research question, “How do high school students in the Puget Sound area perceive people who use opioids and the use of harm reduction strategies as opioid education?”. A vignette cross-sectional questionnaire was distributed to high-school students in the Greater Seattle area (N=72), featuring a fictitious description of an adolescent opioid user. Participants were asked questions regarding the user’s characteristics, autonomy, and the use of harm-reduction education in their local communities. In summary, findings suggest students have a more stigmatized view of PWUO, but a more lenient and positive perception towards harm-reduction strategies.