Stigma And Addiction

Before the study by Roose et al. (2012), however, David Frank approached the stigma concept from an entirely different perspective (2011). Frank believed in the negative perceptions of MMT mentioned by Roose et al. (2012), but pointed to long-standing twelve-step programs as the driving force behind that negativity. Frank’s study investigated this hypothesis by interviewing four individuals from each of four different types of opiate abuse categories. His categories included current heroin users not seeking any type of treatment, heroin addicts using twelve-step programs and no illicit opiates, former heroin addicts on MMT with no illicit opiate use, and former heroin addicts on MMT who also used illicit opiates. Believing that twelve-step programs promote abstinence to a point that is unproductive for addicts, Frank’s study pitted MMT, as the “medical model,” against programs like Narcotics Anonymous as the “moral-spiritual model” (2011). The medical model approaches treatment from

They are often people who were issued pain medication by a doctor, which resulted in dependence on the drug. According to results from the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), an estimated 2.4 million Americans used prescription drugs non-medically for the first time within the past year, which averages to approximately 6,600 initiates per day. This population would seek help if not for the fear and shame they feel about being labeled as a drug addict. These stigmas perpetuated by people believing that addiction is a character flaw or a sign of weakness can create such fear in a person that they won’t ever reach out for the help they need. They worry about losing their jobs and family, so they opt to go without treatment despite the consequences to their health, which could eventually lead to death. In the “Addiction” article published by the Gale group, it states that “According to the CDC, in 2013 more than sixteen thousand people died from prescription opioids, an increase of 50 percent in three years.” Addiction does not discriminate; it makes no distinction between a person’s age, sex, color, or financial circumstance. However, the stigma surrounding addiction and drug use leaves many Americans unwilling to help fund better treatment.

With assistance from local educators such as Dr. Fagan and government policies could help bring awareness to opioid addiction to reduce and limit opportunities for misuse. Communicating this problem among healthcare physicians, providers, health departments can provide the public with information to help those with recovery and prevent further exposure. With effective communication, healthcare providers can spread knowledge, stories, break the stigma surrounding opioid use, and bring more discussion. “Children who learn about the dangers of drugs at home are up to 50 percent less likely to use drugs.”Therefore, we must start a conversation to break the stigma that affects individuals and families throughout our communities. Within the environment, some individuals may feel stigmatized by substance abuse which can be a barrier for those to seek help and contributes to poor mental and physical health ultimately increasing rates of relapse, delay recovery and increase involvement in risky

Drug addiction is something that everyone is vulnerable to, and that unfortunately is something that many people are going through in today’s society. Everyone is exposed to drug addiction, no matter what, it’s just up to the person to determine if they have a strong enough will power to not take the drugs. However, drugs are available to anyone who is willing to buy them, and many people are willing to spend everything they have in order to buy drugs that might give them temporary relief of a situation that they are currently struggling in; drugs are many people’s escape from the reality they are forced to be in. People have different reasons as to why they start using and abusing drugs; some may choose to do it simply because they like the feeling the drugs causes or occasionally because of the environment or situation the person was or is in, but I mostly think it’s because the person isn’t strong enough to stop taking the drugs or to say no to them.

There are numerous reasons, yet too many to discuss in this essay, but for the sack of the reader only a few will be mentioned. One is the medical profession; drug addicts don’t realize the damage done to their brains with long term use and the way it alters brain functionality which brings mental illness into the equation. (qtd The Real Drug Abusers). (136). The turn in research processes has now brought forth the claims that drug addiction is a disease. Drug abuse and mental illness are now on the same plane. More research is needed to make the connection more apparent. Second, Stigma is another reason for lack of rehabilitation patients. Those individuals that believe a drug addict is this way because of choice, make an addict feel unworthy. They feel rejected by their family and loved ones and it keeps them from coming close in order to try and get help. Shame, disgrace, dishonor, and humiliation, leaves them in a state of nowhere to go. The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse: CASA) reported out a third reason and a crucial one, why addicts don’t get treatment; and it

The use of substances for physical, mind and social advantage has been around since the beginning of documented history. Contemporary use of prescription medication for these advantages has led to a national epidemic of substance abuse. Health care providers need to recognize the disease process of addiction in order to effectively combat the growing epidemic of substance use disorders (SUD). Strategies to decrease the prevalence and incidence of SUD include defining addiction, understanding epidemiology, evaluating treatment options and decreasing stigmatism associated with SUD.

Working in the addiction field, I get to see foremost how addiction affects people. Watching these men and women come into treatment broken, damaged, and scared, it is difficult to see. When I look at these women who come into the program where I work, I see a piece of me in them all. I too have been where they are at. A majority of patients that come into these programs are seeking help from opiate addiction. Over the past few years, treatment centers have expanded due to the demand to help opiate abusers. It has definitely become an epidemic over the years, but why? Research shows that when doctors started to overly prescribe narcotic pain medication, the rate for heroin users rose over the years. Prescription drugs play a major role

The cost of alcohol and substance abuse in the United States reaches heights of four hundred eighty four billion dollars per year (“Drug Abuse is Costly, n.d.”). That’s about seven hundred eighty times the amount it cost to diagnose and treat sexually transmitted diseases in the year 2000 (Chesson, 2000). The social issue I will be analyzing in this writing is substance abuse. Much of my childhood and adolescence was spent dealing with the consequences of substance abuse of many of my family members. I would not only like to help bring more awareness to this issue, but also help in some way to end the stigma associated with substance abuse, because it is a mental illness all on its own. And these individuals do need proper intervention and care.

If addiction is a disease then addicts are not to blame for their plight, and this ought to help alleviate stigma and to open the way for better treatment and more funding for research on addiction.

It is important to understand that a person suffering from addiction is essentially captured by the mental addictive forces inside. They feel conflicting emotions and have conflicting thoughts about their problem. In an addict's private moments of despair he knows that he needs help, but the addicted part of him regains control and the thoughts change. He says to himself "I don't need help, I don't need to change. I can beat this thing, anyway everybody is making too much of all this - it's not that bad." He might even be saying "Oh yes I know I need help but I will do it my way." And we watch and wait while he has worsening failed lunges at 'doing it his way'.

Many users who can’t take the stigma against them of be labeled as a drug user or the consequences that come from it and often they don’t seek treatment. But the ones who decided to seek treatment can’t always receive it because of where they live. Most rural communities have limited treatment facilities which limit their access to quality treatment in some cases. But if drug problems were treated as a health issues, I think there would be less stigma against it and more access for them and quality of treatment they

The city of Philadelphia’s recent policy changes regarding the stigma and usage of recreational drugs has shown a positive impact on the community through decrease of incarcerations and medical advancements. This essay argues that although state and local policy changes have shown to be more effective than it’s predecessor set by the Nixon administration, federal oversight and involvement is still crucial to the success of applying a drug policy onto any type of population.

Many social stigmas are associated with drug use within our society. At one point in my life I shared the negative connotations associated to drug abuse with the vast majority of the population of this country and the society in which I live. As I matured and began forming my own opinions based on several personal experiences, I began to disagree with the believed norm that drugs are bad for our society. They are a means of escape for some just the same as alcohol and tobacco is for millions of others in this country. Those legal substances are just as bad for your body and habit forming as other illegal substances. Why do so many people frown on those of us who need our help? Drug addiction is a disease yet it’s

People with an addiction do not have control over what they are doing, taking, or using. There are two main types of addiction: Physical and Behavioral (Emotional). Physical Addiction is when the body adapts to the presence of a substance or drug. As someone begins to build a tolerance to any substance or drug will no longer have the same results as when the person originally took the drug. Due to the level of people’s tolerance, is the biological reaction will create a withdrawal when the substance or drug discontinued. The Behavioral (emotional) side of addiction is based of the level of people stress level or sadness. People tend to gamble or become impulsive to shopping to reduce their level of stress, which releases the hormone dopamine in your brain which makes you feel happy. These types of addiction can unfortunately lead individuals to lose control how the use the drug and become dependent on it for how they feel

During a Methadone study, a misuser articulates experiences with addiction stigma by stating, “They look at you like you’re a drug addict and then they look at you like they can treat you any way they want. You know what I mean. You’re a drug addict. Well, you’re lower than I am if you use drugs.” (Earnshaw, et. al, 8). Impacts of addiction can be felt by the whole community. Administration of psychoactive medication is a valuable technique of treatment for ailments, but irresponsible use of these substances by patients can lead to fixation. Concerns of psychologists and medical doctors are rising around prescribe psychoactive medication misusage, since it can cause psychological, and physiological effects decreasing wellbeing. Thus, this medical issue is prevalent, and there needs to be more education of addiction disorders among Healthcare providers, and awareness to the general public.