“Every change I’ve done is worth it”

Aims: Social support is instrumental for recovering from opioid use disorder (OUD); indeed, a lack of support is linked to symptom recurrence (i.e., “relapse”) and poor outcomes. Various manifestations of stigma are known barriers to long-term recovery, serving to alienate and withdraw support from people most in need of care. This study aimed to expand the understanding of the lived experiences of Black and Latine patients in methadone treatment, with a particular focus on the role of social support. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with Black and Latine patients in two methadone clinics in Newark, NJ ( n = 37) between January and April 2019. Participants discussed OUD, OUD treatment, and stigma. Thematic analysis was used to identify salient themes. Results: Most participants were women (59%), over half Black (54%), and 46% Latine. Three themes emerged: (1) losing social support devastates patients’ mental health and hinders their recovery journey; (2) multiple support touchpoints are critical to recovery; and (3) participants wished that loved ones and health care settings viewed methadone positively. Conclusions: Social support is key to treatment and recovery journeys. Stigma related to addiction and methadone perpetuates social isolation, which discourages individuals from seeking treatment and contributes to disparities for underserved populations. Nursing programs can help reduce stigma by enhancing training on substance use disorders, and clinical settings can further leverage the unique role of nurses in close patient care by providing stigma education.