The Footprints Residential Survey 2025 from Phoenix Futures reveals just how deeply stigma and discrimination continue to shape the experiences of people seeking help for substance use.
The survey by Phoenix Futures, published via the Anti‑Stigma Network, examines the extent to which stigma influences access to residential treatment for people with substance use issues. Key findings show that 75 per cent of residents reported being occasionally or frequently discriminated against because of their substance use. Around 31 per cent said that stigma acted as a direct obstacle to entering residential pathways.
Different experiences of stigma emerged depending on substance type and gender. All respondents whose primary substance was crack cocaine reported discrimination, whereas 65 per cent of those with alcohol as their main substance did so. Women reported a slightly higher rate of discrimination (79 per cent) compared to men (71 per cent).
The survey identifies multiple settings in which discrimination was felt: social and community settings, healthcare environments (including GPs and hospitals), and during treatment-access or referral processes. Regarding access to treatment, 48 per cent of residents described access as neutral or difficult, and only 8 per cent said it was easy. The report emphasises that the figures only include those who managed to negotiate access; the situation for those prevented from entry may be worse.
On motivation for change, the survey found that 88 per cent of residents now cite mental-health reasons as their motivation to seek support, signalling a shift in how substance use is framed.
The survey findings indicate that tackling stigma will need action at several levels. Suggested priorities include workforce training for people in healthcare and treatment settings, policy changes to ensure fair access to residential options regardless of gender or substance type, and work to reduce geographic variation in what is available. Public education to challenge stereotypes and wider use of trauma informed approaches in residential care are also highlighted as areas that could help improve access and experiences.
Read the full post on antistigmanetwork.org.uk
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Read the full post on antistigmanetwork.org.uk