Weston S Kensinger
Biographic Data
| ID | 7942381 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Weston S Kensinger |
| GIVEN NAMES | Weston S |
| FAMILY NAME | Kensinger |
| SIGNATURE | KENSINGER W S |
| AFFILIATIONS | Pennsylvania State University |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-8140-2815 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 7 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 0 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 7 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2022 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 0 |
Familiarity and Support
Objective Opioid misuse is a public health crisis in the United States, leading to high rates of addiction, overdose, disease, and death. There are strategies to reduce the harmful consequences associated with opioid use. Harm reduction strategies (HRS) are part of a broader, comprehensive approach to addressing the opioid crisis. By studying and implementing these strategies, communities can develop a more holistic approach to address the comple…
Challenging public stigma
Background Opioid-related stigma can affect the health and recovery of individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD). As such, campaigns to reduce stigma are needed. We evaluated Life Unites Us (LUU), a comprehensive social media campaign to reduce public stigma of opioids and those who use them, 12 months after campaign launch.Methods A cross-sectional web survey of 1,045 people was used to assess differences in public stigma by exposure to LUU. Su…
Addiction Frameworks, Social Stigma, and Nimby Syndrome
Scholars have argued that stigma of opioid use disorder (OUD) is a significant barrier to implementing evidence-based responses to the opioid crisis, including the use of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD). They have also documented a relationship between addiction frameworks and support for punitive responses to substance use. Using a representative sample of Pennsylvania residents ( N = 1,033), the current study synthesizes this literat…
Somebody to Lean on
Substance use self-stigma is a barrier to treatment and can negatively impact individuals' well-being and treatment engagement. Given the mixed findings in previous research and the limited specific investigation into the concept of self-stigma within the context of opioid misuse, examining factors associated with self-stigma in the context of opioid use disorder (OUD) is warranted. The current study examines the influence of individual-level fac…
Opioid Use Disorder Stigma and Support for Harm Reduction in Rural Counties
Background: The opioid crisis is a public health emergency in the United States, particularly in rural Pennsylvania. Stigma in rural communities is a treatment barrier and impacts harm reduction programming availability.Objectives: The current study utilized an observational, cross-sectional design to examine latent subgroups of stigma and differences in support for harm reduction strategies (i.e., safe injection facilities, syringe services prog…
The Opioid Epidemic and the State of Stigma
Background: The opioid epidemic is a public health crisis. Among initiatives surrounding treatment and prevention, opioid use disorder (OUD) stigma has emerged as a subject for intervention. Objectives: This study examines overall results and demographic differences of three subscales of a public stigma survey instrument: general attitudes, social distance, and treatment availability and effectiveness. Methods: A statewide sample of Pennsylvanian…
Life unites us
Introduction: Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a critical health issue in the USA. Pennsylvania has the third highest number of drug overdose deaths per year, with the COVID-19 pandemic worsening these trends. Stigmatising beliefs towards OUD are associated with negative health outcomes, and there is a need for a larger evidence base on OUD stigma reduction strategies. This study reports on the creation and implementation of Life Unites Us, a digital…
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The Opioid Epidemic and the State of Stigma
Background: The opioid epidemic is a public health crisis. Among initiatives surrounding treatment and prevention, opioid use disorder (OUD) stigma has emerged as a subject for intervention. Objectives: This study examines overall results and demographic differences of three subscales of a public stigma survey instrument: general attitudes, social distance, and treatment availability and effectiveness. Methods: A statewide sample of Pennsylvanian…
Life unites us
Introduction: Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a critical health issue in the USA. Pennsylvania has the third highest number of drug overdose deaths per year, with the COVID-19 pandemic worsening these trends. Stigmatising beliefs towards OUD are associated with negative health outcomes, and there is a need for a larger evidence base on OUD stigma reduction strategies. This study reports on the creation and implementation of Life Unites Us, a digital…
Opioid Use Disorder Stigma and Support for Harm Reduction in Rural Counties
Background: The opioid crisis is a public health emergency in the United States, particularly in rural Pennsylvania. Stigma in rural communities is a treatment barrier and impacts harm reduction programming availability.Objectives: The current study utilized an observational, cross-sectional design to examine latent subgroups of stigma and differences in support for harm reduction strategies (i.e., safe injection facilities, syringe services prog…
Addiction Frameworks, Social Stigma, and Nimby Syndrome
Scholars have argued that stigma of opioid use disorder (OUD) is a significant barrier to implementing evidence-based responses to the opioid crisis, including the use of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD). They have also documented a relationship between addiction frameworks and support for punitive responses to substance use. Using a representative sample of Pennsylvania residents ( N = 1,033), the current study synthesizes this literat…
Somebody to Lean on
Substance use self-stigma is a barrier to treatment and can negatively impact individuals' well-being and treatment engagement. Given the mixed findings in previous research and the limited specific investigation into the concept of self-stigma within the context of opioid misuse, examining factors associated with self-stigma in the context of opioid use disorder (OUD) is warranted. The current study examines the influence of individual-level fac…
Challenging public stigma
Background Opioid-related stigma can affect the health and recovery of individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD). As such, campaigns to reduce stigma are needed. We evaluated Life Unites Us (LUU), a comprehensive social media campaign to reduce public stigma of opioids and those who use them, 12 months after campaign launch.Methods A cross-sectional web survey of 1,045 people was used to assess differences in public stigma by exposure to LUU. Su…
Familiarity and Support
Objective Opioid misuse is a public health crisis in the United States, leading to high rates of addiction, overdose, disease, and death. There are strategies to reduce the harmful consequences associated with opioid use. Harm reduction strategies (HRS) are part of a broader, comprehensive approach to addressing the opioid crisis. By studying and implementing these strategies, communities can develop a more holistic approach to address the comple…
Mental Health Treatment and Access (6 works) · Psychiatry (6 works) · Psychology (6 works) · Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes (6 works) · Social Psychology (5 works) · Medicine (4 works) · Opioid use disorder (4 works) · Opioid Use Disorder Treatment (4 works) · Public health (4 works) · Addiction (3 works)