Breaking Stigma Against Substance Use Disorder

More than 50% off individuals with mental health concerns delay seeking treatment due to stigma. They fear being labeled as “crazy,” or weak.” These negative attitudes or stereotypes also extend to those who need treatment for substance use disorders. Individuals with substance use disorders are often deemed as “failures,” or “lazy.” Many criticize or judge them for not being able to simply stop their use. As a result the user isolates from others, continuing their use falling deeper into their addiction. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, over 106,000 individuals of all ages and genders died in the U.S. due to drug overdose in 2021. Labeling an individual with a substance use disorder in such terms dehumanizes the individual, writing them off as a failure and beyond help. In order to stop the cycle of harm that comes from drug abuse, we have to break the stigma by making an effort to understand substance use disorder, replacing stigmatizing language, and seeking appropriate support.

1) Understanding Substance Use Disorder: Substance use disorder, or addiction, is a brain disorder which causes changes in your brain chemistry resulting in strong cravings and compulsions to use. The first time an individual uses a substance, their dopamine levels sky rocket in their brain, creating that euphoric “high” feeling. Typically, the brain can create healthy levels of dopamine comparable to the size of a baseball in the brain, when a drug is introduced the levels are comparable to a baseball field in your brain. This creates strong cravings, causing individuals to engage in compulsive behaviors they otherwise would not consider such as lying, stealing, or becoming aggressive in an effort to obtain their substance of choice. The brain learns to not make as much dopamine as it grows dependent on the substance to get its regular dosage of dopamine. As a result when the substance user falls incredible low moods, making it difficult to sense pleasure from activities that previously brought joy, and a lack of motivation.

a) Fortunately, substance use disorder is manageable. With the right support system and professional help the individual can build healthy coping skills and create the life changes needed in order to live a harm free life.

2) Replace Stigmatizing Language: Stigmatizing language often is created due to lack of understanding, false representations in media, or even systematic institutions (i.e. law/policy). When harmful stigmatizing language is used to label an individual this causes a person to adopt those beliefs on themselves, leading to lower self esteem, difficulty in relationships, reduced success in treatment, and difficulty with daily functioning. Rather than blaming or labeling the individual we must seek to understand what drove the individual’s substance use. Questions such as “What were you feeling that brought you to begin your substance use?” Instead of the terms, “addict,” or, “junkie” we can more accurately refer the the individual as a, “person with substance use disorder.” This reduces blame and more accurately identifies the disorder as the problem rather than the person.

3) Seeking Appropriate Support: Recovery from substance use disorder requires more than just stopping use, it requires safety plans for when faced with triggers, development of healthy coping skills, and change in lifestyle choices. Having a positive support system to keep one accountable and provide continued encouragement can make all the difference on one’s recovery journey. A healthy support network can include supportive friends/family, Drug/Alcohol Counselor, substance abuse support group (i.e. AA), AA sponsor, and sometimes more depending on the severity of the substance use disorder. Treatment varies depending on the individual and their unique needs. Depending on the substance, the frequency, and quantity of use, the individual may require detox or methadone treatment to reduce use and avoid risk of withdrawal. Typically the most effective therapy for those who fit the criteria for substance use disorder is often behavioral therapy. The aim of behavioral therapy is to evaluate and modify one’s attitudes and behaviors related to drug use, to be better prepared when faced with a trigger to use and avoid relapse.

Written by Mirella “MJ” Jasso, LPCC
Thrive Marriage & Family Counseling

Sources Cited

Borenstein, M.D., J. (Ed.). (2020, August). Stigma, prejudice and discrimination against people with mental illness. Psychiatry.org - Stigma, Prejudice and Discrimination Against People with Mental Illness. https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/stigma-and-discrimination

National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2023, July 10). Drug overdose death rates. National Institutes of Health. https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/trends-statistics/overdose-death-rates

NIDA. 2023, March 9. Treatment and Recovery. Retrieved from https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/treatment-recovery on 2023, Sep 8, 2023

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2023, August 25). Words matter: Preferred language for talking about addiction. National Institutes of Health. https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/addiction-science/words-matter-preferred-language-talking-about-addiction


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