Opioid Message Fatigue in the United States: Prevalence and Associations with Stigma and Policy Support.

BACKGROUND

The opioid crisis has generated widespread public attention and messaging. However, persistent messaging may contribute to message fatigue, i.e., feelings of exhaustion and boredom due to excessive and redundant exposure. This study investigates the prevalence of opioid message fatigue among American adults, its association with individual characteristics, and its connection with opioid use disorder (OUD) stigma and policy support for OUD treatment.

METHOD: A nationally representative cross-sectional sample of U.S. household adults aged 18+ (N = 1,022) were surveyed August 7-15, 2024. Multiple regression models examined individual characteristics associated with message fatigue, and the associations of opioid message fatigue with stigma about OUD and support for OUD-related public policies.

RESULTS

On average, participants reported a moderate level of message fatigue (M = 2.75, SD = 0.85, range = 1-5). Fatigue varied significantly by gender, education, income, political identity, and life experience. Findings suggest higher message fatigue was associated with greater stigma about OUD (B = 0.09, p < 0.001) and lower support for OUD treatment policies (B = -0.32, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Future research should continue to examine the social and policy implications of OUD message fatigue and improve public health communication by anticipating and mitigating message fatigue through strategic planning.