Impact of Stigma-Reduction Education on Substance Use Treatment Utilization Among Men: A Systematic Review

Men experience a disproportionate burden of substance-related harm but often have low engagement with treatment services. Stigma, shame, and masculine norms that discourage emotional disclosure and help-seeking may contribute to delayed treatment utilization. This systematic review examined the effect of stigma-reduction education on substance use treatment utilization among men and identified intervention characteristics associated with better engagement. The review followed PRISMA 2020 guidelines. PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Dimensions AI were searched for English-language studies published from January 2010 to March 2026, with supplementary reference-list screening. Eligible studies included adult men or reported male-relevant findings and evaluated educational or stigma-reduction approaches related to substance use. Nine publications using quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method designs were appraised with the QualSyst tools and synthesized narratively because of heterogeneity in populations, interventions, and outcomes. Stigma-reduction education may reduce internalized stigma and improve treatment attitudes, acceptability, and engagement-related outcomes. Interventions incorporating peer or lived-experience contact, culturally relevant content, and attention to masculinity, emotional openness, fatherhood, and responsibility appeared particularly promising. However, most studies measured proximal outcomes such as stigma, attitudes, or programme attendance rather than verified treatment initiation, retention, or sustained utilization. Male-specific findings were also limited in mixed-gender studies. Stigma-reduction education appears promising for improving men’s engagement with substance use care, especially when combined with gender-responsive services, credible messengers, culturally appropriate delivery, and accessible treatment pathways. Rigorous longitudinal studies are needed to determine whether reductions in stigma lead to measurable improvements in treatment utilization.