Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7czq Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T14:54:29.103Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Are some of the stigmas of addictions culturally sanctioned?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Patrick Corrigan
Affiliation:
Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Georg Schomerus
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Greifswald University, Greifswald, Germany
David Smelson
Affiliation:
University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

We provide three examples of how addiction stigma is sanctioned: (a) discrimination against people with addictions is often legal; (b) public health communications frequently use stigma to promote prevention; (c) some programmes, such as ‘12 steps’ promote self-stigma. The implications of sanctioned stigma for stigma-change programmes are then discussed.

Type
Editorials
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2017 

Footnotes

Declaration of interest

None.

References

1 Lloyd, C. The stigmatization of problem drug users: a narrative literature review. Drugs Educ Prev Pol 2013; 20: 8595.Google Scholar
2 Keiny, M. UNGASS 2016 on the World Drug Problem: Focus on People, Public Health and Human Rights. WHO, 2015 (http://www.who.int/medicines/news/ungass2016-world-drug-problems/en/).Google Scholar
3 Schomerus, G, Lucht, M, Holzinger, A, Matschinger, H, Carta, MG, Angermeyer, MC. The stigma of alcohol dependence compared with other mental disorders: a review of population studies. Alcohol Alcohol 2011; 46: 105–12.Google Scholar
4 Callard, F, Arboleda-Flórez, J. Mental Illness, Discrimination and the Law: Fighting for Social Justice. John Wiley & Sons, 2012.Google Scholar
5 Peterson, K. National Reforms Needed to Help Inmates Return Home. The PEW Charitable Trusts, 2005 (http://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2005/01/14/national-reforms-needed-to-help-inmates-return-home).Google Scholar
6 West, ML, Yanos, PT, Mulay, AL. Triple stigma of forensic psychiatric patients: mental illness, race, and criminal history. Int J Forensic Ment Health 2014; 13: 7590.Google Scholar
7 Schomerus, G. The stigma of alcohol and other substance abuse. In The Stigma of Disease and Disability: Understanding Causes and Overcoming Injustices (ed Corrigan, P): 5772. American Psychological Association, 2014.Google Scholar
8 Gutman, N, Salmon, CT. Guilt, fear, stigma and knowledge gaps: ethical issues in public health communication interventions. Bioethics 2004; 18: 531–52.Google Scholar
9 Ralph, RO, Corrigan, PW. Recovery in Mental Illness: Broadening our Understanding of Wellness. American Psychological Association, 2005.Google Scholar
10 White, WL. Nonclinical addiction recovery support services: history, rationale, models, potentials, and pitfalls. Alcohol Treat Q 2010; 28: 256–72.Google Scholar
Submit a response

eLetters

No eLetters have been published for this article.