For people seeking addiction treatment in Massachusetts, one of the biggest obstacles is not always cost or availability. Sometimes it is the fear of being judged.
A University of Massachusetts Dartmouth nursing program is working to change that, training the next generation of healthcare providers to treat substance use disorder without stigma, and partnering with institutions across the Atlantic to do it.
The Bridging the Atlantic Program
UMass Dartmouth’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences has partnered with the University of the Azores in Portugal through a program called Bridging the Atlantic, which has been running since 2013.
The two schools conduct bilateral exchanges where nursing students travel between the United States and the Azores to study community health issues side by side.
Each year, the program focuses on a community health issue shared by both countries. The 2026 exchange centered on substance use stigma, a topic with direct consequences for the thousands of Massachusetts residents who need but avoid addiction treatment every year.
Students engage with community agencies, attend university courses, and participate in health promotion activities with vulnerable populations in both countries.
The goal is to build a generation of nurses who understand how culture shapes addiction, and how bias in healthcare settings drives people away from the help they need.
What Is Substance Use Stigma
Stigma around addiction means treating people with substance use disorder as morally weak, dangerous, or beyond help rather than as patients with a medical condition.
Research shows this stigma is common even among healthcare providers. When nurses and doctors hold negative attitudes toward patients with drug and alcohol addiction, those patients are less likely to seek care, less likely to be honest about their use, and less likely to stay in treatment.
Stigma is one of the reasons why, despite the scale of the addiction crisis in Massachusetts, many people never access professional help. Reducing it in clinical settings is considered a key step toward improving addiction treatment outcomes.
UMass Dartmouth’s NO STIGMA Initiative
The Bridging the Atlantic exchange is part of a broader anti-stigma effort at UMass Dartmouth.
The university’s NO STIGMA Nursing team, led by Dr. Mary McCurry, received a $595,485 grant from the Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts (FORE) to develop simulation-based training for nursing students on how to provide non-judgmental, evidence-based care to patients with opioid use disorder.
The team developed six high-fidelity simulations designed to reduce stigma when caring for patients with opioid use disorders. The simulations showed statistically significant improvements in stigma reduction among college students at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels.
The program has presented its findings regionally, nationally and internationally, and its work has been published in peer-reviewed journals including the Journal of Nursing Scholarship.
Why This Matters for Massachusetts Residents
Massachusetts has been one of the hardest-hit states in the opioid epidemic. Opioid fatalities peaked at 33.5 deaths per 100,000 people in 2022, with illicit fentanyl contributing to more than 90 percent of those deaths.
As of spring 2025, more than 40 sites contract with the Bureau of Substance Addiction Services to care for people with opioid, alcohol, and stimulant use disorders. Treatment access has expanded in recent years, but many people still do not seek it.
Stigma is a documented reason why. When people fear being judged by the nurses, doctors, and counselors they encounter, they delay treatment or avoid it entirely.
Training providers to respond with compassion rather than bias can directly increase the number of residents who actually enter and stay in care. You can find a variety of rehab facilities in Massachusetts if you or loved one are ready to seek help.
Understanding Substance Use Disorder
Substance use disorder is a chronic medical condition, not a moral failing. It occurs when repeated use of alcohol or drugs changes how the brain processes reward, motivation, and self-control.
Common signs include difficulty stopping use despite wanting to, continued use when it causes problems at work or home, increased tolerance, and withdrawal symptoms when cutting back.
Opioid use disorder specifically may include signs like taking more medication than prescribed, seeking multiple prescriptions, or using street drugs to avoid withdrawal.
Effective treatment options include medication-assisted treatment (MAT) using medications like buprenorphine or naltrexone, inpatient and outpatient rehab programs, behavioral counseling, and peer recovery support.
Finding Addiction Treatment Centers in Massachusetts
If you or someone you love is struggling with substance use, knowing that compassionate, evidence-based care exists is an important first step.
Addiction treatment options in Massachusetts range from outpatient counseling and medication-assisted treatment to residential rehab programs across the state.
You do not need to navigate this alone. Addictions.com lists verified addiction treatment centers across Massachusetts, including programs in Boston, Worcester, Springfield, and communities across the South Coast. Call
800-681-1058
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