preview

How Social Inequalities Affect A Person? S Experience Of Drug And Alcohol Dependency And Their Potential For Recovery

Better Essays

The aim of this essay is to look at how social inequalities affect a person`s experience of drug and alcohol dependency and their potential for recovery or successful treatment. Due to social inequality people are ostracised from society, these individuals who are stigmatised and suffer discrimination are often the poor as opposed to the hierarchy who have better opportunities in life. Social Inequality refers to the way individuals in society are labelled regarding their status. This could be their citizenship, location or other factors such as age, gender or class. This essay will look at social inequalities and who experiences them, however the main focus will be on those with drug and alcohol dependencies and how stigma and marginalisation are attached to them. Additionally the essay will look at some of the reasons why the stigma attached to someone dependent on drugs or alcohol can create barriers to accessing treatment and impact on their recovery.
There are two main areas for social inequality, one being the equality of conditions, the other being income and material possessions. (Lewis 2011) The poor are being blamed for their own poverty and have been labelled as scroungers who prefer to receive benefits than earn a living. In actual fact a large number of people living in poverty are working, these are usually long hours for minimum wages. Housing is also typical of social inequality, in particular the homeless or those who are in hostels. The poorer communities

Get Access