Shatterproof, RIZE Massachusetts, and GE Foundation Release Survey on Massachusetts Healthcare Professionals and Stigma around Screening, Treating Patients with Opioid Use Disorder Research Finds that Stigma Around Addiction Extends to Provider Community

RIZE News

July 16, 2019

Today, GE Foundation, the philanthropic organization of GE; RIZE Massachusetts (RIZE), an independent nonprofit foundation working to end the opioid epidemic in Massachusetts; and Shatterproof, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to reversing the course of the addiction crisis facing America, released the results of a year-long Massachusetts-wide project, “Opportunities to Increase Screening and Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder among Healthcare Professionals.” The goal of the white paper was to understand and identify opportunities to overcome stigmas that prevent certain healthcare providers from screening and treating patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) and close the treatment gap. The research found that stigma associated with OUD extends to the provider community, where a minority of providers are trained in addiction, find treating OUD satisfying, or want to work with OUD patients.

Financial support for this initiative came from GE Foundation and RIZE. The project consisted of both qualitative research and a quantitative survey. The Massachusetts Medical Society fielded the survey to their own members and led the coordinated effort with an additional 10 provider organizations to field the survey to their member base.

Shatterproof conducted the survey with healthcare professionals across the state of Massachusetts, focusing on three main areas: perceptions around OUD and managing patients with OUD, barriers to screening and treating patients with OUD, and interest in a wide range of potential programs to provide information or education to combat stigma and/or drive increased screening and treatment for OUD.

“This study shows just how powerful the stigma associated with addiction is,” said Julie Burns, the President and CEO of RIZE Massachusetts.  “It also provides essential information that will help us close gaps in coverage.  We are enormously grateful to the provider community for their candid participation in this project.”  In fact, a consortium of twelve Boston and Cambridge hospitals have already stepped forward with a commitment to educate thousands of caregivers to better care for patients with addiction and support thousands of staff who may be affected by substance use disorder (SUD) either themselves or in their families over the next year.

Following review of existing research and stigma reduction initiatives, as well as focus groups with patients, family members, and healthcare providers, and a thought leader roundtable discussion, Shatterproof developed the 15-minute quantitative online survey. The survey was targeted towards the primary project specialties – Emergency Medicine (EM), Family Medicine (FM)/Internal Medicine (IM), and OBGYN/Women’s Health – as well as addiction specialists, pediatric providers, psychiatry providers, and social workers, as a point of comparison.

Key survey findings among respondents include:

  • Only 1 in 4 providers had received training on addiction during medical education
  • Only 1 in 10 EM providers found caring for patients with OUD satisfying
  • Less than 50% of EM and FM/IM providers believed that OUD is treatable
  • Almost one third of providers with more than 20 years of tenure tended to have a stronger preference for not working with patients with OUD.
  • Almost half of providers felt patients would not be honest about their opioid use if asked directly
  • Less than 1/3 of EM, OBGYN/Women’s Health, or pediatric providers feel very prepared to screen, diagnose, provide brief intervention for, or discuss or provide treatment for OUD
  • 2x as many EM providers than any other specialty believe methadone treatment for OUD is substituting one addiction for another
  • 2 in 5 EM or FM/IM providers feel that treating patients with OUD takes away time and resources from other patients
  • More than 50% of Emergency Medicine, FM/IM, OBGYN/Women’s Health providers feel they don’t have sufficient access to behavioral health support to start patients on medication for addiction treatment.

These findings are consistent with those of the project’s qualitative work.

“We were honored to partner with GE Foundation, RIZE Massachusetts, and Massachusetts Medical Society to complete this important research that has provided much needed insight to the areas and opportunities of improvement for the education and preparedness of health care professionals,” said Gary Mendell, Founder & CEO, Shatterproof. “These findings will help continue to inform our work as we continue to create solutions that will reverse the course of the addiction crisis in America.”

The survey insights and learning were used to identify concrete opportunities for stigma-reduction programs and behavior change interventions across and within medical specialties, in order to increase screening and treatment of OUD.

As part of GE Foundation’s commitment to community health and to fighting the opioid crisis in Boston and across Massachusetts, this collaboration will ultimately result in a series of improved educational initiatives and programs to help more health care professionals screen and treat patients with OUD,” said David Barash, Executive Director, GE Foundation.

For detailed survey results read the report here.

 

Position Summary

The Massachusetts Harm Reduction Workforce Coalition (MAHRWC), established in 2024, is a statewide organization designed to strengthen, connect, and sustain the harm reduction workforce across Massachusetts through community, training, mutual support, and collective action.

The first of its kind in Massachusetts, MAHRWC continues to grow its network of harm reduction workers, advocates, and partners committed to saving lives and advancing justice across the Commonwealth.

The project coordinator will be fully dedicated to MAHRWC, providing day-to-day support for coalition operations, communications, and member engagement. This role helps ensure coalition activities run smoothly by:

  • Managing administrative systems and internal coordination.
  • Coordinating meetings, events, agendas, and follow-up materials.
  • Supporting data tracking, reporting, and documentation.
  • Serving as a key point of contact for members, partners, and other stakeholders.

The ideal candidate is highly organized, detail-oriented, committed to public health and harm reduction principles, and comfortable working with diverse stakeholders, including community-based organizations, healthcare providers, policymakers, and people with lived and living experience.

 

Key Responsibilities

1. Administrative & Operational Support

  • Manage coalition calendars, schedules, and meeting logistics.
  • Coordinate virtual and in-person meetings, including agenda preparation and note-taking. This includes the coalition advisory board's regular bimonthly meetings.
  • Maintain shared drives, databases, and internal documentation systems (Google Suite, Zoom, Constant Contact).
  • Support the executive director with activities related to contract and grant reporting.
  • Provide logistical support for trainings, conferences, and coalition events.

2. Communications & Member Engagement

  • Serve as the first point of contact for coalition inquiries.
  • Maintain membership lists and distribution groups.
  • Draft and distribute newsletters, meeting summaries, and updates.
  • Support social media and website updates (if applicable) alongside other staff and consultants.
  • Assist in preparing reports, briefs, and presentations.

3. Data & Reporting Support

  • Track coalition activities, deliverables, and metrics.
  • Assist with grant reporting and compliance documentation.
  • Compile and organize workforce data and partner updates.

4. Event & Training Coordination

  • Coordinate registration and materials for workforce training along with the training coordinator.
  • Support the training coordinator with speaker communication and event logistics.
  • Gather participant feedback and evaluation data.

 

Qualifications

Required

  • Strong organizational and time management skills
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and virtual meeting platforms
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Preferred

  • Experience in public health, behavioral health, or harm reduction
  • Familiarity with workforce development initiatives
  • Experience supporting coalitions or multi-partner collaborations
  • Experience working with communities disproportionately impacted by substance use and overdose

Core Competencies

  • Commitment to harm reduction philosophy and health equity
  • Cultural humility and trauma-informed approach
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
  • Strong interpersonal skills and collaborative mindset
  • High level of discretion and professionalism

 

Work Environment

RIZE Massachusetts Foundation (RIZE), launched in 2017, is the only public-private partnership dedicated to ending the overdose crisis. Guided by those with lived experience and unafraid of new ideas, RIZE is building networks, creating programming, and supporting community partners using novel approaches to preventing overdose and increasing access to treatment. Since its inception, RIZE has awarded over $30 million to more than 275 organizations aligned with its mission.

As MAHRWC’s fiscal partner, RIZE provides financial and administrative support while respecting the group's autonomy and self-determination and supports the coalition’s efforts to dismantle systemic inequities and help build a future where compassion, dignity, and support replace stigma and neglect.

This position reports to RIZE’s chief program officer and works closely with the chief executive officer. It is a full-time, hybrid role with the expectation of two days in the office. RIZE is in downtown Boston, and occasional travel, primarily in-state, will be required for meetings and events as needed. This role may require evening and occasional weekend work.

We are an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, military service, genetic information, or other status protected under the law.

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