Dianova to Launch a Campaign on Stigma

The campaign will focus on how stigma impacts us all, and how it could very well be the single largest contributor to the mortality rates due to substance abuse disorders

Words can be harmful: getting rid of addiction stigma language can change how we view substance abuse disorders and help people recover

For years Monica drank alone, in hiding from others, in order to escape the social stigma associated with alcoholism. And even more so when you are a woman. When it comes to alcohol and drugs, many people still rely on old stereotypes, e.g. while a drunk man is the life of the party, a drunk woman is a hot mess. This can induce a form of social self-control in women and drive them to drink alone, which amounts to taking a step towards addiction. Such experiences can also affect relatives who are ill-equipped to face the problem. “My partner was always trying to shame me while tracking the bottles I would hide all over the place. But in the end, it was always me who would outsmart him and get my daily doses” she said.

This is an example, among many others, of how stereotypes and stigma can make a bad situation much worse. They are actually common in all types of substance abuse disorders and all come from the fact that most people still believe that addiction is a character flaw or a weakness in a person.

These experiences are distressing and can result in people feeling anger, rejection and a sense of hopelessness and worthlessness which may trigger further alcohol and other drug use. They can create barriers to people seeking and receiving help to address their problem and can also hinder their ability to reconnect with their communities and access employment or educational opportunities. They can also compound social disadvantage and can lead to isolation and social exclusion which may result in adverse consequences on mental and physical health.

On the occasion the International Day Against Drug Abuse and illicit Trafficking, on June 26, the Dianova International will launch a campaign on the issue of stigma and discrimination. Through a series of articles and infographics, we will examine how stigma impacts us all, both consciously and unconsciously and how it could very well be the single largest contributor to the mortality rates due to substance abuse disorders. Lastly, we will provide a number of recommendations designed to reduce the burden of stigma in people with addiction disorders and targeting policy makers, the public at large, the media, the healthcare community and the private sector.