Understanding 1: Stigma forces secrecy
Secrecy increases isolation and stress—both fuel addiction.
What you can do: Bring one part into the light safely (even one sentence).
Understanding 2: Judgment blocks honest healthcare
People with SUD often expect blame instead of care, which makes disclosure harder.
What you can do: Use a simple phrase at appointments: “I want help and I’m scared of being judged.”
Understanding 3: Stigma can become internal (self-stigma)
When you absorb blame, you stop believing you deserve treatment or recovery.
What you can do: Borrow a new identity statement: “I’m a person in recovery.”
Opioids act at μ (MOR), δ (DOR), and κ (KOR)receptors widely distributed across circuits regulating reward, pain, mood, and social connection.
MORs:dense in VTA, NAc, amygdala, PAG, thalamus, spinal cord→ mediate euphoria, analgesia, and affective relief (Darcq & Kieffer, 2018; Erbs et al., 2015).
DORs:abundant in neocortex, hippocampus, and striatum→ modulate mood, cognition, and resilience.
KORs:concentrated in amygdala, hypothalamus, and NAc shell→ mediate dysphoria, stress, and anti-reward.
