Reducing stigma through education to enhance Medication-Assisted Recovery.

The National Alliance for Medication Assisted Recovery has started projects to address the stigma that impacts medication-assisted treatment. The Certified Medication Assisted Treatment Advocate Program trains patients and professionals for advocacy in seminars and conferences. The MARS Project educates (Einstein, Bronx, New York) buprenorphine and methadone patients to dispel stigma and achieve better treatment outcomes. Beyond MARS trains patients nationwide to replicate the MARS Project. Stop Stigma Now will create a national public relations campaign to overcome ignorance and stigma. These projects have the potential to end stigma and elevate medication-assisted treatment to its rightful place as the gold standard of treatment.