Stigma, Not Access, Blocks Addiction Treatment, Inova Survey Finds
Fairfax, Va. – September 11, 2026 -- Three in four adults believe fear of exposure stops people with substance use disorder from seeking treatment, according to a new survey from Inova Health System.
The survey polled more than 500 Northern Virginia adults
Inova's eighth annual Act on Addiction survey found stigma remains the top barrier to care in the region. Fewer than 20% of respondents knew that substance use is classified as a brain disorder, one that alters brain circuits governing reward, stress and self-control. Nearly 9 in 10 respondents said raising awareness of that fact would reduce stigma in their community.
Trust in community support varies sharply by group
Just 48% of respondents believed their community would be supportive if someone openly discussed their recovery journey. That confidence dropped among women (44%), Black respondents (45%), Hispanic respondents (47%) and rural Virginians (43%).