People who live with addiction can face serious harm to their physical and emotional wellbeing. They may suffer social setbacks, relationship strain, and financial or legal trouble. Compassionate, comprehensive treatment can set people on the path of recovery and help them live the healthy, fulfilling lives they deserve.
At any stage of addiction and recovery, a person may face judgment or discrimination from others in society. The stigma of addiction can prevent others from seeing an addicted person as competent or worthy of help. Many people may believe that the person chose to abuse substances and therefore deserves whatever harm comes from it.
No one chooses their addiction. People living with substance abuse or addiction deserve to have their needs met and access high-quality, effective treatment. Addiction stigma is wrong, and we should work to end it. Understanding how this harmful stigma shows up in our society and what to do about it can help us end it.
A stigma is an unfair, negative association with an action or condition. Many people carry a stigma about people living with addiction. Carrying a stigma can lead to negative behaviors or treatment of people in this group.
Behaviors related to addiction stigma include:
Some people may believe that addiction is a character weakness or a moral failure. These beliefs are pervasive; the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health found that people were more likely to have negative thoughts about people with addiction than those living with mental illness.[1] Another survey found more than 75% of respondents believe addiction is a choice.
These negative attitudes are often reflected in our public policies and in addicted people’s beliefs about their place in society.
The stigma of addiction is more than simply a set of negative beliefs. In many cases, a stigma carried by society affects many areas of people’s lives.
An addicted person is likely to be aware of addiction stigma and may fear judgment or rejection. They may hide their substance abuse from their loved ones and peers for a long time to avoid facing others’ misconceptions about addiction.
A person living with addiction may internalize addiction stigma. This can result in decreased self-worth, loneliness, and chronic stress. They may believe they are not worthy of help and may not seek life-saving treatment when they need it.
Only about 11% of people who require addiction treatment get the help they need.[2] Some of this can be attributed to the stigma of addiction. Medical providers who carry addiction stigma may be more skeptical of their patients and less likely to believe in what they are saying. They may offer lower-quality care to their addicted patients or perceive their behavior in negative ways. The result? People with addiction are less likely to seek the medical, mental health, or addiction treatment they desperately need.
People with addiction deserve dignity in all aspects of life, including having their basic needs met and access to high-quality addiction treatment programs. By ending the stigma of addiction, we can give people with addiction the best chance at recovery by ensuring they get the care they need.
Each of us has a responsibility to help end the stigma of addiction. You can begin by checking in about your own beliefs and attitudes about people who live with addiction.
Some other steps you can take include:
Most importantly, learn more about addiction and recovery. The more you understand this condition, the less likely you will carry an addiction stigma.
If you or a loved one require addiction treatment or support at any stage of recovery, reach out to the Recovery Guide today.
Michael Herbert, The Recovery Guide, has more than 30 years of experience working closely with individuals and families dealing with addiction and recovery issues. He is a seasoned Coach and can help you and your family establish long-term goals and access the tools you need for continued abstinence and recovery for the entire family. Get in touch with Michael today at 561-221-7677 to schedule an appointment.
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