The Stigma Of Drug Addiction

As the disease model argues that there is no cure for addiction, the only treatments available aims to reduce or suppress the urge to use drugs (McNeece & DiNitto, 2012). Firstly, addicts

The definitions have progressed from tolerance or withdrawal symptoms from a specific drug to chronic intoxication, continued use with increased dosage, dependence, and damaging effects to user (Reinarman 2005). Both of these definitions proved to be too restrictive because all drugs do not have the same effects on every user. The current definition used by physicians and the criminal justice system is based on seven criteria (Reinarman 2005). The constant evolution of how the professional world views drug dependence mirrors society’s change in the understanding of addiction. Historically, “the drink” was viewed as the devil and drugs were often thought to be the cause of many criminal acts (Schneider 2003). After the medicalization of addiction and dawn of decriminalization of drug abuse, public opinion of deviant alcohol and drug use has changed. For the family unit, it is much simpler to accept and approach treatment for addiction if it is classified as a medical disease. In society, drug users can be framed as patients instead of criminals based on current standards. By looking at addiction as a treatable set of signs and symptoms instead of holding the individual accountable for actions they committed while intoxicated, the disease concept releases a lot of the stigma that goes along with

All around the world anyone can find people that are addicted to some form of drug. Drug addiction is a huge issue that has been occurring for about thirty years now and is occurring to this day for many reasons. Some of those reasons may be that something is going on back home and they have had enough, or because of stress, peer pressure, biological reasons and the list goes on. However, there has been law enforcement due to drugs since the mid 1980’s. People have many viewpoints to when it comes to drug use and addiction. There are three perspectives people have that view the use of drugs and drug addiction which are structural functionalism, conflict, and symbolic interactionist.

For many years, we as a society have assumed that those who become addicted to drugs or alcohol do so out of character weakness and / or moral depravity. While choices and judgment make up a part of why some people become addicted, it does not account for all people. Many people who initially are treated with prescription painkillers for legitimate pain soon discover they have exchanged a pain problem for a full-blown and life-threatening addiction.

In society, drugs have been the downfall for many people. There are many reasons that a person may use drugs such as: peer pressure, relief of stress, increased energy, to relax, to relieve pain, to escape reality, to feel more self esteem, and for recreation ("Drug addiction and drug abuse," 2011). What is it that causes the obsession and compulsion to use drugs? Why can some people stop and others go on to become addicts? Addiction is often now defined by the continuing, compulsive nature of the drug use despite physical and/or psychological harm to the user and society ("Drug addiction and drug abuse," 2011).

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse 2014, the disease model addiction is considered a brain disease that can affect multiple circuits in the brain, which involve motivation, learning, memory and inhibitory control over one’s behavior. Because drug addiction and abuse have so many dimensions and disrupts aspects of one’s life, treatment is just not that simple. Addiction treatment must be able to stop an individual from using drugs and continuously maintain a drug free lifestyle, and achieve productive functioning in working, family and society. Because a person’s addiction is typically considered a chronic disease, those who have the disease cannot simply stop using drugs in a few days and totally be cured. Some require long-term and repeated episodes of care to be able to achieve one’s ultimate goal of sustaining abstinence and recovery of their lives. A report conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), the

There are different stigmas with addictions. “Addiction related stigma affects people in different ways”. “As a result there is a wealth of ways

These beliefs include: bad kids’ use drugs, goods kids’ do not use drugs, and individuals suffering from addictions are hopeless, fragile, and sinners. The treatment and prevention for addiction has struggled to receive sufficient funding from the government. The author believes without the financial support from the government, prevention campaigns and research involving effective new treatment methods is not plausible. The prevention campaigns help by creating additional awareness for children and adolescents about drugs, and the short and long term side effects drugs have on an individual’s body and mind. The reason for the lack of support from the government is due to a negative stigma on addicts. The negative stigma is that individuals suffering from addictions are choosing to cause harm to themselves, rather than being in need of help and support. When viewing the stigmas that the health insurance companies and the clinical teams have placed on treating individuals that are suffering from addictions. The health insurance companies feel that they are not obligated to treat individuals that are suffering from addictions. The reasoning following that is insurance companies believe that drug use is not technically viewed as an illness unless they are considered to be in crisis. Once an addict is in crisis the clinician may struggle to offer effective services to the client. When a client is tackling a

Society has a worldview on how they characterize a person who is an addict, that worldview is determined from personal beliefs, family beliefs, or experiences through interacting with an addict. Usually, people assume that addiction is a choice not a chronic disease, believing that they can just stop whenever, no realizing that the drug is what “shaped” them (Gawne-Kelnar). People stigmatize a person who is an addict without complete understanding. Most people have a fixed mindset of what an addict is since a young age, but fail to realize that addiction is a complex illness and disease. Addiction is a psychological problem that interacts with the stimulation of the brain. It is a chronic disease that triggers the frontal lobes of the brain

“The magnitude of the world drug problem becomes more apparent when considering that more than 1 out of 10 drug users is a problem drug user, suffering from drug use disorders or drug dependence.” In other words, approximately 27 million people, or almost the entire population of a country the size of Malaysia, are problem drug users. And almost half of those problem drug users inject drugs” (UNODC). Heroin, prescription painkillers, benzodiazepines, cocaine, and alcohol are common, highly addictive drugs. According to The Guardian (News and Media), there are many experiences where addicts, former or current, struggle to reach sobriety and deal with the mental and physical challenges that co-occur. “It's easy to become complacent in your recovery. That's why I attend 12-step meetings, so that I don't forget what it was like, to remind myself that I'm only one drink or drug away from the person I once was. If I had one drink or one hit, my illness would make me want more and more, something the 'normal' person may not understand” (Mike, two-and-a-half years clean). “The longer one takes heroin the greater one's tolerance becomes. Eventually, the little bags weren't enough to stave off the symptoms of withdrawal, and more and more was required just to get me to work, just to get me to sleep, just to get through this trauma, just to not feel how miserable I was” (Vanessa, 17 years clean).

Addiction is a term that has traditionally been used to refer to psychiatric syndrome that is caused by illicit drug use. Actually, addition is the only psychiatric condition whose symptoms are regarded as an illegal activity. In most cases, this term is described on the basis of drug use, which is the main focus of many research and treatment programs. Generally, drug addiction has significant negative effects on individuals using the drug and those around them such as family and friends. Family and friends are usually forced to watch their loved ones wilt away in illicit drug use. While addiction has traditionally been regarded as a psychiatric condition, there are numerous debates that have emerged on

Drug and alcohol addiction is a very serious and widespread problem in America, and across the globe. Drug addiction is a constant craving, seeking, and using of a substance, despite the negative consequences it may have on the addict or those around them. When drug use becomes more frequent, it is considered drug abuse. Once an individual’s drug abuse is can no longer be controlled, and they are using the drug to get through everyday life, it beomes an addiction. A person on drugs has an altered way of thinking, behaving, and perceiving. There are treatment facilities all over the world dedicated to help those suffering with drug addictions. All

7 MYTHS ABOUT DRUG ADDICITON THAT UNDERMINE RECOVERY Addiction is one of the conditions where a person indulges in compulsive and repetitive behaviours that have potential negative impacts on the person’s mental health. One such addiction is drug addiction which involves a compulsive habit of consuming drugs. Coping up with drug addiction is tough and the myths revolving around it only make the situation worse. To help drug addicts find a better future, we must erase a few myths about drug addiction. Keep reading to find out 7 myths about drug addiction that we need to discard right away.

Drug addiction is a complex problem in society today. Addiction is a condition that extremely affects the person’s mind and body. Addiction also has wide sweeping effects on that person’s social connection and functioning. Unfortunately, many addicts don’t realize the social influence of their addiction until much of their functioning has greatly deteriorated.

Sociologists, religious adherents, and government agents see addictive behavior as being criminal or sinful. These kinds of social judgments do little to help the addict, yet, they do cause harm, making the addict feel shameful, weak, or helpless. Suddenly he feels like a child who wets the bed, or cannot