Risk Perceptions of Substance Use Recovery Disclosure in Medical School Applications: A National Sample of Physicians and Dentists

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Provider stigma is a significant barrier to accessing care for substance use disorders (SUDs), impacting treatment rates and health outcomes.
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Medical and dental school applications do not require disclosure of substance use history, but personal statements allow applicants to discuss recovery experiences.
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Applicants in recovery may fear that disclosing their history could jeopardize their chances of admission in a competitive selection process.
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The study surveyed physicians and dentists to assess their perceptions of risks associated with disclosing substance use recovery in applications.
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Findings indicate that stigma and fear of repercussions may influence applicants' decisions to disclose their substance use recovery.

Journal Of General Internal Medicine (Springer)

by Rachel Chang, Nicholas Ganek, James K. Colgrove, Margaret R. Pereyra, Carrigan L. Parish, Petra Jacobs, Viviana E. Horigian, Harold A. Pollack, Daniel J. Feaster, Lisa R. Metsch
March 9, 2026

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