Stigma and Substance Abuse

Abstract

AbstractA wide range of substances have been stigmatized, including tobacco, alcohol, prescription drugs (such as opioids), and illicit drugs. Public health officials want to stigmatize substances to limit their use, while at the same time they work to destigmatize people with drug dependencies to promote help-seeking and greater social acceptance. Particularly in the case of tobacco use, public health officials wielded a heavy hand in marginalizing and de-normalizing smoking. This chapter considers the stigma surrounding drug use, including opioid use and alcohol use. Because substances are stigmatized differentially, alcohol and other substances are not collapsed into a single group, as is often the case. Stigma of substance use in non-Western cultures, substances used in religious ceremonies, and substance use among women are also examined. The chapter closes with approaches to stigma reduction.