{"id":11901,"date":"2021-03-01T15:19:00","date_gmt":"2021-03-01T20:19:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.therecoveryvillage.com\/?page_id=11901"},"modified":"2022-05-31T15:31:46","modified_gmt":"2022-05-31T19:31:46","slug":"stigma","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.therecoveryvillage.com\/drug-addiction\/stigma\/","title":{"rendered":"Addiction Stigma"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Teens who struggle with drugs or alcohol face face countless forms of addiction stigma every day, often causing them to feel at odds with themselves and the world around them. Additionally, the threat of societal judgment prevents many parents from getting their teens help they need to recover.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

What is Addiction Stigma?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Societal stigmas are ingrained in our minds from the time we are born, which makes them particularly tough to negate. Stigmatization occurs when entire groups of people are subject to broad, negative opinions about who they are. If overweight people are viewed as lazy, or homeless people are seen as thieves, or elderly people are considered unintelligent, then they are being impacted by stigma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A similar stigma looms over parents who have a child struggling with a substance use disorder or a co-occurring disorder. Insensitive and dehumanizing words like \u201ccrackhead,\u201d \u201cdope fiend\u201d or \u201cpsycho\u201d can and do sting. Far too often, society has a knee-jerk reaction to those struggling with these disorders, opting to assign correlations to deep-seated moral failings \u2014 the kid has poor morals<\/em> or the family hasn\u2019t instilled proper values<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What must be understood is that a drug or alcohol addiction<\/a> is not a moral failing. It\u2019s a disease that requires professional treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stigma and Drug Rehab<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If discussing addiction or drug rehab options<\/a> has proven difficult with either your primary care provider or within your family, it\u2019s understandable, considering just how much stigma factors into the planning or justifying of getting some form of professional help. But the key is to remember that addiction is a disease, the treatment and maintenance of which is wholly out of your hands \u2014 no matter how concerned a family member or caregiver you are. If your child needs help, find a way to get them help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every day, on average, 100 people die from drug overdoses. Another 12 young people under age 21 die every day from alcohol-related causes. That\u2019s 100 too many. That\u2019s 12 too many. Despite the stigmas, the hard truth is that teen drug abuse<\/a> and alcoholism don\u2019t get cured on their own; only treatment can get a young person on the road to sobriety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Studies have shown that effective treatment planning hinges on one major factor: demonstrating the need for treatment. When a teen or loved one acknowledges that rehab is worth a shot \u2014 that they need treatment \u2014 there is a greater likelihood that the child adheres to the treatment program. But the research also shows that this occurs despite the patient expecting to be stigmatized. In other words, it\u2019s understood that guilt and shame regarding addiction treatment may be loud \u2014 the importance of drug treatment must be louder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Effects of Addiction Stigma<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Americans\u2019 opinions about teens with addiction tend to be informed strongly by the negative reputations associated with it. Thus, parents whose children are resorting to drug use in high school<\/a> or middle school are often hesitant to seek professional help. They worry what their friends, coworkers, extended family and even doctors will think of them. The end result is that teen addiction<\/a> often remains unaddressed, and it inevitably worsens without treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Addiction stigmatization is dangerous for many reasons, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n