How Medication Stigma and Bias Can Impact Patient Recovery

Pharmacy Times interviews Allison Burns, PharmD, RPh, the CEO of End Mass Overdose (EMO) Health to discuss how medication stigma and bias can impact patient recovery.

Burns discussed how misunderstandings, stigma, and medication-related errors can directly affect patient outcomes and recovery efforts in correctional, residential, and congregate care settings. According to Burns, one of the most common challenges occurs when health care professionals or staff members make assumptions about the appropriateness of certain medications without fully understanding their role in treatment.

Burns explained that medications used to treat opioid use disorder, such as methadone and buprenorphine, can sometimes be misunderstood because they are themselves opioids. As a result, staff may incorrectly believe that patients should not receive these therapies or may question prescriptions involving controlled substances. Similar concerns can arise when patients are prescribed both medications for opioid use disorder and benzodiazepines for specific clinical needs. Burns noted that, although these decisions are often made with patient safety in mind, insufficient understanding of the treatment plan can lead to inappropriate denial of medications and unnecessary barriers to care.

In addition to stigma and misinformation, Burns highlighted medication administration errors as another significant concern. In facilities where multiple patients receive similar therapies, staff may encounter patients with similar names or medications that appear nearly identical. These situations can increase the risk of administering the wrong medication or dose to the wrong patient.

Burns emphasized that dosing errors involving methadone can be particularly serious. Receiving a lower-than-prescribed dose may leave a patient vulnerable to withdrawal symptoms, while receiving a higher dose can increase the risk of oversedation and other adverse effects that require close monitoring. When such errors occur, prompt communication with the patient's treatment program and ongoing patient observation are essential.

Ultimately, Burns stressed that both stigma-driven treatment decisions and medication management errors can disrupt care and negatively affect recovery. Ensuring that staff are adequately educated, following established medication administration procedures, and maintaining access to appropriate therapies are critical steps in supporting safe and effective treatment for patients with mental health and substance use disorders.