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Stigma can be defined as a mark of shame, a discredit, or a defect.
Many people have negative fixed ideas or stereotypes that add to the stigma associated with the problem of alcohol, tobacco, drug or gambling addiction. A person affected by addiction is often perceived by others as having a “weakness” or “character flaw.” People who struggle with addiction begin to believe these negative comments and the images the media often shows relating to addiction. This stigma can add to the guilt and shame many people already feel because of having a problem with substance use or gambling.
One thing 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 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 how much or how often they gamble or use alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs. No one chooses to be addicted. Fortunately, like many other diseases, a person can overcome an addiction with treatment.
For many people the effects of stigma become a barrier to seeking treatment. The stigma associated with addiction makes someone more likely to hide the problem and less likely to talk about it and ask for help getting into treatment. Family members and loved ones of someone with an addiction often experience the same feelings of shame.
What you can do to end stigma
You may only be one person, but you can help make a difference in reducing the stigma surrounding addiction.
Learn as much as you can about addiction. Learn the facts. It will help you understand how the disease of addiction can affect people. Educate yourself about the recovery process, different types of treatment, and self-help organizations. Learning more about treatment and recovery will help you understand what you can do to help.
Educate others. Pass on what you learn about addiction to friends and family. A little knowledge goes a long way. It may help since many people believe the stereotypes and myths about addiction and don’t know the facts.
Be sensitive. When talking about people with substance use problems, try to choose your words carefully.
Be inclusive. People in recovery make valuable contributions to society every day. Try not to hold a person’s history of addiction against him/her. In many cases, laws such as Americans with Disabilities Act and Fair Housing Act protect those in recovery from discrimination.
Support the recovery community. There are many organizations that increase awareness about the needs of the recovery community like the Massachusetts Organization of Addiction Recovery (MOAR) and Faces and Voices of Recovery (FAVOR). Learn more about how you can get involved.
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, or to get certain types of loans to further their education? Did you know addiction treatment is often not covered by insurance? Speak with leaders in your community to educate them about the facts of addiction and needs of the recovery community.
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The stigma associated with the disease of addiction can create barriers for people who are seeking help and trying to make positive changes in their lives. The effects of stigma may create challenges in the following areas as well as others: |
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• Finding and holding down a job
• Finding and having a safe place to live
• Getting health care coverage for needed services
• Feeling accepted
• Finding and making friends
• Taking part in social activities. |
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Money. In 2004-2005, more than one-third of people who needed treatment for a substance use disorder didn’t get help because of health insurance barriers. Nearly half of those who received treatment paid for costly treatment services out-of-pocket. Many individuals and families go into debt to pay for treatment services that health insurance does not cover. Learn more about publicly funded insurance options in Massachusetts.
Health Connector: www.mahealthconnector.org
MassHealth:
www.mass.gov/masshealth |
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Training. Many healthcare professionals lack the training to properly assess and treat addiction. A survey conducted by Columbia University’s National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse found that more than 8 out of 10 primary care doctors fail to address substance use disorders in patients who display symptoms of addiction. |
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Child custody. Some parents who are thinking about getting help for their problem may fear losing their children to the legal system if they come forward and seek treatment. |
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Number of treatment slots. Often treatment programs are full and/or have a waiting list which makes it difficult to get into their programs. |
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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: |
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Myth: A person addicted to drugs or gambling can stop whenever he or she wants.
Fact: Addiction is a chronic brain disease that has little to do with willpower. Research shows that long-term alcohol, substance use or gambling changes a person’s brain function, which makes them crave the substance even more. As a result, most people with an alcohol, substance use, or gambling problem need help at one time or another. People are able to cut down or stop their problematic use in many ways including through the use of formal treatment, counseling, self-help groups, support of others and their faith. |
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Myth: Treatment of addiction doesn’t work and is too expensive.
Fact: Treatment works for the addicted person and it works for society. Different types of addiction treatment are successful between 40 and 60 percent of the time. This success rate is similar to the treatment success rate 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. |
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Myth: A person can’t be helped until they’ve “hit bottom.”
Fact: Many people with substance use or gambling problems can get help before they’ve developed a full blown addiction or “hit bottom.” This is why early screening and intervention services are so important. Family members, friends, healthcare providers or employers can play a role by sharing concerns and asking someone with a problem to seek treatment. |
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Myth: There should be one treatment program for all addictions.
Fact: Not every treatment method works for everyone. The most effective programs take into account the individual needs of each person and make thorough assessments about someone’s current circumstances and level of addiction. |
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Myth: If a person is motivated to stop, they should be able to complete drug abuse treatment in a short period of time.
Fact: Studies show for many a successful road to recovery includes follow-up supervision and support long after the treatment program is completed. People who remain in treatment programs for at least 90 days are more likely to remain substance-free than those who do not. |
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Myth: Relapse equals failure.
Fact: Recovery is a long process and sometimes relapse is a very real part of that process. Many things can trigger a relapse: stress at work or home, taking part in a social function that includes substance use, or even smells or familiar people and objects associated with the addiction. But people who relapse can and do recover. |
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