listenpreventtreatrecover

stigma is a barrier

One thing that people with diseases have in common is they don’t choose to get them. A person doesn’t choose to have diabetes, asthma or high blood pressure.

The same thing is true for people that have an addiction. Addiction is a disease rooted in the brain that affects a person’s ability to make rational decisions about their alcohol, tobacco, drug use or gambling. No one chooses to be addicted to drugs, alcohol or gambling. Like many other diseases, a person can overcome an addiction with treatment.



Even though this is true, many people have fixed ideas, or
stigmas, about addiction. A stigma can be defined as a mark of shame or discredit. A person affected by a substance use disorder is often perceived as having a weakness or character flaw. People who struggle with addiction often begin to believe the negative things that people and the media say about them.  This can add to feelings of guilt and shame people with an addiction already feel as a result of not being able to control their substance use or gambling.

It’s part of a cycle that becomes a barrier to treatment: An addicted person feels enormous guilt and shame because of the stigma, and that low self-esteem makes him or her more likely to hide the problem and less likely to ask for help and get into treatment.






What you can do to end stigma
You may only be one person, but you can help chip away at the stigma surrounding addiction and substance use.

Learn as much as you can about addiction. Learning the facts about addiction will help you understand how the disease of addiction can affect people.

Educate others. Pass on what you learn about addiction to friends and family. A little knowledge goes a long way.

Rethink your attitude towards addiction. Be sensitive when talking about people with substance use problems. Choose your words carefully.

Be inclusive. People with substance abuse problems make valuable contributions to society every day. Make an effort to include a person in recovery into your workplace or group. In many cases, laws such as Americans with Disabilities Act and Fair Housing Act protect those in recovery from discrimination.

Support recovery. If you know someone who is struggling with addiction, provide a sober environment to help him or her get better. Educate yourself about the recovery process and what you can do to help make treatment work.

Be an advocate. Did you know that federal law prohibits mothers with prior drug convictions from receiving benefits such as food stamps and WIC? Did you know that people who have been convicted of alcohol or drug crimes often face barriers that make it very difficult to find good jobs? Did you know that addiction treatment is sometimes not covered by insurance? Speak with leaders in your community to educate them about the facts of addiction and recovery.
 

 
  People who are addicted often cite shame and humiliation as one of the main reasons for not seeking treatment. Stigma also keeps people who struggle with addictions from:
 
• finding and holding down a job.
• finding and having a safe place to live.
• getting the health care they need.
• feeling accepted.
• finding and making friends.
• taking part in social activities.
 
  A 2006 USAToday/Gallup Poll of U.S. adults who have a family member with a drug or alcohol addiction conducted found that:
  • 75 percent think addiction is a disease.
• 75 percent believe that people who are addicted can make a full recovery.
• 70 percent say that the addiction has had an effect on their own emotional or mental health.
• most used ‘emotional’, ‘devastating’ and ‘horrible’ as words to describe a family member’s addiction.
 
 
Money. In 2004-2005, more than one-third of people who needed treatment for a substance use disorder didn’t get help because of cost of insurance barriers. Nearly half of those who received treatment paid out-of-pocket.
 
Training. Many healthcare professionals lack the training to properly treat addiction. A survey conducted by the Columbia University's National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse found that 9 out of 10 primary care doctors fail to diagnose substance abuse in patients who display classic symptoms of addiction.
 
Legal. Some who are thinking about getting help fear losing their children to the legal system if they come forward and seek treatment.
How can we change public opinion and get rid of the stigma surrounding addiction? We can start by learning the difference between the real facts and common myths about addiction:
Myth: A person addicted to drugs or gambling can stop whenever he or she wants. Addiction is a chronic brain disease; it has nothing to do with willpower. Research shows that long-term substance use changes a person’s brain function, which makes them crave the substance even more.
Myth: An addicted person must want treatment for it to be effective. If this were true, then almost no one would receive treatment. Most people seek help because they are either ordered by the court to get treatment or are asked by loved ones to get help.
Myth: Treatment of addiction doesn’t work and is too expensive. Treatment works for the addicted person and it works for society. Addiction treatment reduces use up to 40 to 60 percent.  This success rate is similar to treatment for other conditions like asthma, high blood pressure and diabetes. For those involved in the criminal justice system, addiction treatment has been shown to decrease criminal activity after treatment.
Many studies show for every $1 spent on addiction treatment as much as $7 is saved in healthcare, welfare, criminal justice and other  public costs.
Myth: An addicted person won’t seek treatment until he or she hits rock bottom. Many people with histories of addiction get the help they need before they’ve hit the lowest point. Often family members, friends, or employers can play a role by sharing their concerns and asking someone with addiction to seek treatment.
Myth: There should be one treatment program for all addictions. Not every treatment method works for everyone. After a thorough assessment of the addiction, the most effective programs often take into account the individual needs of the person needing help. 
Myth: If a person is motivated to stop, they should be able to complete drug abuse treatment in a short period of time. Studies show that a successful road to recovery includes follow-up supervision and support long after the treatment program is completed. Patients who remain in treatment programs for at least 90 days are more likely to remain substance-free than those who do not seek follow-up treatment.
Myth: Relapse equals failure. Recovery is a long process, and relapse is a very real part of that process. Many things can trigger a craving: stress at work or home, taking part in a social function that includes substance use, or even smells or familiar objects associated with the addiction. People who relapse can and do recover.

 
listenpreventtreatrecover

DPH logo
BSAS