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Whether or not we want to admit it, we can’t deny that stigma and discrimination are still alive and widespread in society today. Stigma not only affects the way we view others in society, but also the way people view themselves. Our words have a direct impact on the opinions we form about others, and when our words are negative and discriminatory, our thoughts tend to follow suit.
Understanding Stigma
Stigma is a negative connotation that is associated with a particular person or attribute. The words we use and how we describe certain people and characteristics goes a long way in perpetuating stigma.
Unfortunately, there is a lot of stigma associated with addiction and mental illness, especially substance use disorders or SUD. A lot of this stigma comes from misunderstanding SUD, and the spreading of false information. Many people believe that addiction is “moral failing,” when we in fact know that addiction is a chronic, treatable disease that people can recover from, and continue to lead normal lives.
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