What is the Stigma of Addiction?

Addiction stigma is not just a negative perception towards people with substance use disorder. It is a major barrier that prevents millions of people from getting the treatment they need in order to recover.

Despite the fact that their condition is treatable, these addicted individuals may be led to believe that there is no hope for them. Add that onto the overwhelming feeling of despair and hopelessness that you experience when you are struggling with the effects of addiction, and you have an incredibly deadly obstacle.

Addiction stigma can cost people their lives. Stigma is one of the major factors that contribute to the high death rates associated with drug abuse.

Addiction stigma causes discrimination towards people who have a legitimate medical condition. If health care professionals have these same preconceived notions about their patients, then it reduces the quality of care for those in recovery.

People have this idea that addiction is the person’s fault. They are to blame for their condition because they engaged in risky behavior. But most people engage in risky behavior all the time: eating unhealthy food, participating in extreme activities, and spending most of their time seated. And yet there is no judgment surrounding people who end up in the hospital or emergency room because of these conscious decisions.

Substance abuse may involve a conscious decision to take a drug or drink alcohol, but there are other factors at play here. Nobody actively chooses to become addicted. There are various genetic and environmental factors that contribute to the likelihood of developing an addiction. A lot of these factors are out of your control: your family history of substance abuse, exposure to stress, economic situation, and home environment are things that you can’t easily control.

Stigma dehumanizes those who are addicted. They are treated with fear, anger, or disgust. Even some people in the healthcare field may discriminate against addicted individuals because of their own biases.

People who have an addiction should be met with the same compassion and understanding as those who have other chronic diseases like diabetes or heart problems. Do not make someone feel bad just because they have an addiction. This will only push them away. Instead, try to find ways of supporting them in their recovery journey.

If we want to reduce stigma, we need to explore its causes. We need to take a look at the preconceived notions that are so prevalent in society that even health care providers sometimes discriminate against people in recovery. We need to think about why addiction is viewed as worse than mental illness, despite the fact that both are treatable now.

Addiction is a complicated disease. It is characterized by the compulsive use of a particular substance despite suffering from various physical and mental health effects. An addicted person will keep taking drugs or drinking alcohol even when they are already suffering from the consequences. It’s a medical condition that affects your brain, making you unable to quit even if you want to.

According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine, addiction is a chronic disease that affects motivation, brain reward, and memory. But even though it is already widely known that addiction is a disease, most people still hold the belief that addiction is a moral failing.

There are many deep rooted reasons for the stigma of addiction. For example, addicted individuals may exhibit certain symptoms that can lead to negative consequences like legal troubles, financial problems, and even relationship problems. Some people with a substance use disorder may suffer from impaired judgment and display erratic or aggressive behavior.

This is one of the reasons why substance use disorders are often associated with the criminal justice system. Some addicted people become so desperate to obtain their drug of choice that they resort to criminal behavior. But this does not paint the entire picture.

When it comes to media portrayals, addicted people are most commonly shown engaging in criminal activity. It is a generalization that only contributes to the stigma by suggesting that all addicted people are dangerous, untrustworthy, and deserving of punishment. While there are addicted individuals who end up committing crimes, there are even more addicted people who don’t.

When properly managed in a treatment setting, the problematic behavioral symptoms associated with addiction tend to diminish. This only goes to show that addiction is the problem. Addicted people are not dangerous themselves. They need proper treatment to recover.

Discrimination and stigma do not just happen on a societal level. It also happens on a family level. Family members treat addiction as a private matter because of shame and fear of what other people may think about their loved one who is struggling with addiction. They treat addiction as something that should only be whispered about. They avoid acknowledging the problem, which only contributes to the shame and regret that the person feels on an individual level.

Unfortunately, there is a tradition of judgment when it comes to addiction. Stigma exists simply because it always has. Society has yet to unlearn this prejudice.

Because of discrimination and outdated moral views, it’s easy to see how people who have substance use disorders may hesitate to seek proper treatment. This is why we need to talk about how to break this stigma of addiction.

Society as a whole commonly treats addiction as a moral problem or even a criminal matter. Even those who have established long-term recovery may still struggle with discrimination when looking for jobs, education, housing, etc. Instead, it must be treated like the disease that it is. It is a chronic condition, but it is possible for people to manage their condition and live long and happy lives. Eliminating the stigma of addiction removes a major obstacle that keeps millions of people from recovering.

Addiction stigma is born out of ignorance, and so the solution is actually simple: education.

People need to know what addiction truly is and how it works. Media portrayals are not enough because they are not entirely accurate or realistic. It needs to be emphasized through education that addiction is not a result of immorality. It is a disease that can be treated.

With proper education, more people can be convinced to pursue addiction treatment and begin their healing journey. It all starts with you.

You need to banish your own biases surrounding addiction, alcohol use disorder, alcohol dependence, and other preconceived notions that perpetuate stigma. Even if you or your loved one is going through addiction, you may have your own inaccurate assumptions about what addiction is. You may think less of someone who goes to rehab or judge someone for relapsing after going through treatment. Eliminate these thoughts from your head and focus on supporting those who want to get better.

Before you can educate other people, you need to start educating yourself. Become the expert. Read up on different addiction types and their effects. The more you can understand addiction, the more you can sympathize with those who are suffering from it. Look for reliable resources online as well as personal stories shared by those who have been through the addiction treatment process.

Look into sources like the National Behavioral Health Council, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the American Society of Addiction Medicine, the office of National Drug Control Policy, and so on.

You can then become an advocate for those who are dealing with addiction. You can start small by having discussions with your friends and family members. This is especially important if you know someone who is addicted. You can empower them by being on their side and making sure they have the emotional support they need to get through the rehab process.

Wash away the stigma of addiction by eliminating your own biases, educating yourself, and helping others seek treatment.

With the right amount of information at your disposal, you can begin to educate the people around you about addiction, rehab, and recovery. By giving them the right information, you can help them eliminate their own biases and start spreading awareness.

This is even easier now thanks to social media. It’s a simple and powerful tool that will allow you to spread your message more effectively. It’s also a good way of supporting loved ones who are in recovery. They can see that you have their back and this may motivate them to keep pushing through.

You don’t even have to write entire articles yourself. You can just share articles from reliable resources. Use various platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube to spread awareness and help fight stigma.

Engage with other people and enlighten them about substance use disorder. If you have a personal story about addiction and recovery, feel free to share it with others as well, depending on your own comfort level of course. The more people talk about it, the more that addiction becomes destigmatized. It is no longer something that is whispered about, but rather something that is the topic of open discussions within the community.

Your voice may inspire those who are in need of treatment. Your resilience may bring them hope.

Speak up against misinformation and discrimination. A lot of misconceptions surrounding addiction are based on fear and ignorance. You can help fight this with information and education.

Whenever you do speak up about addiction, make sure you use the proper terms. Some words pertaining to people with substance use disorders tend to perpetuate stigma rather than combat it.

Avoid terms like abuser, substance abuser, addict, alcoholic, drunk, drug abuser, and junkie. Stick with terms like substance use disorder, person with a substance use disorder, people suffering from addiction, etc.

This is a “person-first” way of communicating, wherein you are putting the focus on the person rather than their condition. The other way around can dehumanize people suffering from this chronic condition. Calling someone a “substance abuser” has a negative connotation and only demoralizes them. Instead, you may refer to them as “a person with a substance use disorder”.

Whether it’s an alcohol use disorder, an opioid use disorder, or any type of addiction, it is important that you address the person rather than their condition. Simply revising the words you use when talking about addiction can help fight addiction stigma.

At the end of the day, it’s all about treating people like human beings.

Look for an addiction treatment center near you today and learn more about the available treatment options. Your journey to lifelong sobriety can begin today.

Treatment is an addicted individualʼs best option if they want to recover. Beating an addiction not only requires eliminating the physical dependence, but also addressing the behavioral factors that prevent them from wanting to get better. Simply quitting may not change the psychological aspect of addiction. Some people quit for a while, and then take drugs or alcohol again, only to overdose because they did not detox properly. Recovery involves changing the way the patient feels, thinks, and behaves.