Social Stigmatization of Drug Abusers in a Developing Country: A Cross-Sectional Study (original) (raw)
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The Most Severe Stigma: Stigma Toward Substance Use Disorder
Addicta: The Turkish Journal of Addictions, 2022
Stigma is a concept since Ancient Greece and has been effective in shaping the social structure. Throughout the historical process, chronic, infectious, and mental diseases have been stigmatized by society. Mental illnesses are more severely stigmatized than physical diseases. Stigmatization toward substance use disorder is the first ranked in the world. This situation has been associated with the lack of knowledge about the disease, the terminology and language of the disease, and effects and the criminalization of substance use. When stigmatization against individuals with substance use problem is reflected in health systems, it appears as an important obstacle to treatment. In addition, stigmatization is reflected in systems such as education, law, and economy. Therefore, individuals experience problems and face discrimination in these systems. This situation shows how important stigmatization is in preventing human needs. The impact of social stigma on the individual can lead to self-stigmatization. When people with substance use disorder perceive the stigmatization of society, they internalize and feel guilt and shame. They prefer to hide the illness and self and become socially isolated and lonely. As a result, stigmatization becomes a major problem, creating a vicious circle. The solution to this should be done through structural elements and society.
An investigation of stigma in individuals receiving treatment for substance abuse
Addictive Behaviors, 2007
This study examined the impact of stigma on patients in substance abuse treatment. Patients (N = 197) from fifteen residential and outpatient substance abuse treatment facilities completed a survey focused on their experiences with stigma as well as other measures of drug use and functioning. Participants reported experiencing fairly high levels of enacted, perceived, and self-stigma. Data supported the idea that the current treatment system may actually stigmatize people in recovery in that people with more prior episodes of treatment reported a greater frequency of stigma-related rejection, even after controlling for current functioning and demographic variables. Intravenous drug users, compared to non-IV users, reported more perceived stigma as well as more often using secrecy as a method of coping. Those who were involved with the legal system reported less stigma than those without legal troubles. Higher levels of secrecy coping were associated with a number of indicators of poor functioning as well as recent employment problems. Finally, the patterns of findings supported the idea that perceived stigma, enacted stigma, and self-stigma are conceptually distinct dimensions.
BMC Psychiatry
Background Substance use disorder is a growing problem worldwide, and the stigma associated with it remains a significant barrier to treatment and recovery. This study aimed to assess the perceived stigma among individuals with substance use disorders and its correlation with their socio-demographic characteristics and clinical history Parameters. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 552 patients with substance use disorders admitted to the outpatient clinics of Mansoura University Hospital, Addiction Treatment Unit of the Psychiatry Department, and Port Said Mental Hospital, Addiction Department. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire, which included demographic information, clinical history parameters, and the Perceived Stigma of Substance Abuse Scale (PSAS). Results The study found that almost half of the participants were aged 29 or younger, married, and had a median stigma score of 20. The vast majority of participants were male, had no previous...
Psychosocial understanding of self-stigma among people who seek treatment for drug addiction
Stigma and Health, 2016
Substance use disorder is one of the most stigmatized health conditions. Stigma internalization is one of the main consequences of the stigmatization process, and it is associated with lower self-esteem and self-efficacy and worse recovery prospects. It may also bring guilt, hopelessness, anxiety, self-devaluation, and depression. This study investigated self-stigma among substance dependents who sought treatment, testing the construction of a psychosocial model for understanding this phenomenon. Individual interviews were conducted at the Psychosocial Care Center for Alcohol and Drugs at Juiz de Fora, Brazil. Data were subjected to exploratory statistical analysis, using descriptive and standard deviation. Three explanatory models of self-stigma were tested: the sociodemographic model, including variables such as gender, religious practice, education, marital status, employment status, and involvement in illicit activities; the psychological model, with variables related to symptoms of depression, selfesteem, and hope; and the psychosocial model, which included all sociodemographic and psychological variables. The sample was composed by 461 individuals. The results supported the hypothesis that the psychosocial model would have greater explanatory power of self-stigma among substance dependents. An association between self-stigma and the sociodemographic variables and the type of substance used was confirmed. Depressive symptoms contributed to higher scores on self-stigma. Stigma may be a barrier to access to health care, treatment, social research, social inclusion, and recovery opportunities. Interventions and treatment models that are able to reduce self-stigma would have the potential to contribute toward a reduction in the negative impacts associated with substance use disorder.
Substance Use & Misuse, 2010
A self-report measure of perceived stigma toward substance users was developed and studied. An initial measure was created based on a previously developed scale that was rated by experts for content validity and quality of items. The scale, along with other measures, was administered to 252 people in treatment for substance problems in the United States during 2006-2007. Refinement efforts resulted in an eight-item scale with good face validity, construct validity, and adequate levels of internal consistency. Most relationships with other constructs were as expected. Findings suggest that perceived stigma is distinct from other forms of stigma.
Stigma, Drug Addiction and Treatment Utilisation: PWUD Perspective
Journal of drug abuse, 2016
Background: People who used drugs are stigmatized in Slovenia. Discrimination may also adversely affect the health of those who use illicit drugs, through exposure of cronic stress, physical, psychological, social and spiritual harm and barrier to accessing care. The objective of this study was to provide information from drug user point of view why they don't seek help. Methods: In the period time from January to September 2007 we collected data randomly from the questionnaire in a crosssectional survey, which is part of a wider international project Correlation. It was an open interwiev. We interviewed 53 respect of their status as problematic heroin users in Ljubljana, Celje and Ig. For sampling we applied a non-probability approach, including the elements of the »snowball« method. We used statistical program SPSS for descriptive statistic (percents) to showed sociodemographic caracteristics of paticipants and reasons why drug users not seek help they need and we prooved statisticaly links between treatment history of drug users and stigma discrimination indicator with Student T test. Results: We showed socio-demographic characteristic of participants. Discrimination is among the highest rated values of reasons for not seeking help (80%). Those who have already received some medical support such as methadone treatment, psychotherapy, detoxification, feel more and the most discriminated against in 72%, 61% and 73%, but among the listed variables we found methadone treatment statistically significant conection (p=0.029). Those who have already received social benefits and had low and high threshold experience felt discriminanted against but the differences are not statistically significant. Conclusion: Results of the study suggest several problems, dissatisfaction and unsatisfied needs of drug users with health and social services and submit discrimination as the highest reason why not seeking help.
Stigma, discrimination and the health of illicit drug users
Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 2007
This article was originally published in a journal published by Elsevier, and the attached copy is provided by Elsevier for the author's benefit and for the benefit of the author's institution, for non-commercial research and educational use including without limitation use in instruction at your institution, sending it to specific colleagues that you know, and providing a copy to your institution's administrator.
Stigma, discrimination and the health of illicit drug users.pdf
Persons who use illicit drugs are stigmatized in the United States. The conferral of a deviant social status on illicit drug users may serve to discourage use. However, stigmatization may also adversely affect the health of those who use illicit drugs, through exposure to chronic stress such as discrimination and as a barrier to accessing care. We hypothesized that aspects of stigma and discrimination would be associated with mental and physical health among illicit drug users. Using street outreach techniques, 1008 illicit drug users were interviewed about stigma and discrimination related to their drug use, and their health. We measured discrimination related to drug use, alienation, perceived devaluation, and responses to discrimination and stigma. Health measures included mental and physical health measures from the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36, depression symptoms from the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale, and a sum of health conditions. In adjusted models, discrimination and alienation were both associated with poorer mental health, and only discrimination was associated with poorer physical health. Angry responses to discrimination and stigma were associated with poorer mental health. The association of stigma and discrimination with poor health among drug users suggests the need for debate on the relative risks and benefits of stigma and discrimination in this context.