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Blog > How Can We Help Remove the Stigma of Addiction?

How Can We Help Remove the Stigma of Addiction?

Pam
| February 25, 2013

One of the best definitions of stigma that I have found is, “An unfair label that associates a person to a set of negative characteristics that form a stereotype.” Is this any more true than in the case of addiction? Ask any number of people on the street what words come to mind when you say the word “addict.”  You will likely hear words like “lack of willpower,” “morally deficient,” “poor,” “bad family,” “lazy” and “worthless.” Why is this the case, despite the fact that the mental health community largely accepts addiction as a complicated, multi-faceted illness? I have some thoughts about that.

Let’s start with the war on drugs. This war has been going on for a long time, and if we are being honest, is not working. Even the terminology “war” implies that drug users are criminals. They are certainly treated that way. Much of our prison population is there for drug-related offenses. This system implies shame and says that addicts get what they deserve. Nothing could be further from the truth. But it’s been embedded in our culture for so long that people take it as truth. The real truth is that people with addictions are your neighbors, your friends, your children and the people you see at church. They are intelligent, lovely people. They have a disease, and it requires compassionate treatment, not prison or disdain.

I recently attended an overdose prevention summit. There was a young woman there whose friend almost died of an overdose. When she asked him why he didn’t seek help, he stated, “The fear of judgment was worse than the fear of death.” Wow. So how do we end the stigma?

First and foremost, we end it through education and more education. Who are the best educators? I would say those with addictions and families of those with addictions. This is why I am so excited about working with Heroes in Recovery. We help educate and remove the stigma of addiction by asking real people to share their stories of recovery. Through the stories of these wonderful people, others can see what the face of addiction really looks like. They can see that, with compassionate support and treatment, it is possible to overcome addiction and go on to live a wonderful life. They can feel hope!

Please help me spread the message by sharing our website (www.heroesinrecovery.com) with others!

 

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