UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — A team of Penn State researchers is studying opioid use disorder (OUD) as a social and health crisis to reveal how the patients’ economic well-being may affect the treatment process. The project, led by Bu Zhong, an associate professor in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications, aims to uncover key economic determinants and other underlying factors that contribute to an individual’s vulnerability to addiction.

More than two million Americans are affected by OUD, which can be a life-threatening condition if untreated. While a great deal of study has been devoted to research surrounding risk factors for opioid dependence and causes of opioid abuse, the understanding of the social and economic factors that patients deal with is still at its early stage.

Because opioid overdose deaths rates remain high despite declining opioid prescriptions in recent years, researchers are interested in studying the root of the opioid crisis. In addition, living with this disease can have profound effects on people’s mental health and overall well-being, so better understanding the epidemic is important.

“Despite recent medical advances in treating opioid use disorder, less is known about why many people who could benefit do not seek them out,” said Zhong. “Our research aims to investigate how health disparities experienced by socially disadvantaged groups, including inequalities in healthcare quality and health outcomes as well as stigmas, could affect people with addiction.”

Zhong worked with doctoral candidate Lola Xie and undergraduate research assistants Felicia Dorvilier-Augstin, a senior studying psychology, Alexa Gelzheiser, a junior studying biology, and Casey Zanowic, a junior studying broadcast journalism and political science. The research was supported in part by Penn State funds designed to enhance undergraduate research opportunities.

The research team conducting face-to-face interviews with patients at a local addition clinic and student researchers said the experience was revealing. Dorvilier-Augstin said her knowledge of OUD was limited before coming into the study, and getting the opportunity to speak with patients allowed her to better understand how people deal with the condition.

“Meeting people with OUD is important because it becomes much more real,” Dorvilier-Augstin said.

Gelzheiser agreed and said that the experience impacted her view of those struggling with OUD and how much of a burden it is to live a normal life.

“This research is so important to remove the stigma and judgment associated with addiction from the public’s perspective,” Gelzheiser said.

Zanowic said the experience changed her view of those struggling with OUD, and taught her the importance of not judging or stigmatizing people in treatment or recovery.

“Getting to talk to OUD patients was really eye-opening for me,” Zanowic said. “Hearing their stories helped me gain a better understanding of what leads people to opioid addiction and why it’s so difficult for people to live a normal life after they make that one mistake.”

Researchers surveyed 102 patients with OUD and conducted interviews with over 19 patients about how social and economic factors might contribute to OUD as part of the study. The interviews consisted of questions revolving around five themes: patients' past experiences in the clinic, their everyday lives with and without the prescription, the process of switching to the clinic as their main medical provider, their experience with Dr. Scott Camazine and his staff, and advice they would give health practitioners to better improve the lives of those in OUD treatment.

Initial interviews and conversations with the doctor demonstrated that social and economic factors do play a role in retention in opioid treatment programs. Staying in the program resulted in reduced cravings, less pain overall and lower chances for relapse or overdose for these patients.

Several patients interviewed agreed they would not be motivated or functional if they did not take this medicine. Most would get their pills off the street if they were not able to get them from Camazine, which would result in financial hardships and strains on family relationships, reported the researchers.

Camazine, whose practice is based in State College, acted as a medical consultant. His background in patient care and his years of experience helping those with addiction, rehabilitation and emergency medical assistance gave him a unique perspective when it came to patients who came to him in desperate need of help.

“The interaction with patients is beneficial for me and for them. They appreciate an opportunity to tell their story and to be heard and valued as human beings,” Camazine said.

Among the patients, many often felt being judged by people, especially the doctors who are supposed to be helping them. The patients working with Cazamine said their experience with the treatment center was much better than with previous doctors.

The research team hopes its findings will contribute to better healthcare practices for those with OUD, including changes to preventive strategies and improved patient care. In addition, Zhong believes their research efforts will also positively contribute to the health care world as well as the student community. He thinks efforts to understand the underlying factors involved in opioid use disorder will contribute to reducing medical costs among socially and medically complex patients while also teaching students and communities the social responsibilities they have for those who need help.