Substance-Specific Stigma and the Gatekeeping Role of Social Distance in Recovery Support Provision

Background

Community integration for individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs) depends on the willingness of social network members to provide aid, yet the mechanisms driving this support remain poorly understood. This study evaluates how substance type and relational proximity influence willingness to help, isolating the relative impact of social distance, recovery optimism, and individual normative assets.

Methods