Addressing Stigma around Substance Use Disorder


By Anthony Licciardone 

Anthony is a graduate student at the University of San Diego pursuing his Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. He is passionate about increasing accessibility and reducing the stigma surrounding mental health for college students. Before joining Health Services, Anthony volunteered as a hotline counselor, providing clients with emotional support, crisis intervention, and referral to community resources and basic needs case managers.

 

Stigma is defined as a set of negative attitudes or beliefs used to discredit or shame a group of people, place, or thing. Stigma is harmful as it contributes to discrimination on multiple levels by perpetuating inaccurate or damaging ideas and policies. Individuals with a substance use disorder (SUD) often face stigmatization due to misconceptions that addiction is a choice or a moral failing. While there are several negative effects of this stigma, there are many ways that we can challenge these harmful beliefs and support those living with SUD. 

 

Effects of Stigma on People with SUD 

  • Feelings of shame, embarrassment, and fear
  • Social withdrawal
  • Less likely to seek treatment
  • More likely to receive lower quality health care and treatment
  • Discrimination on an individual, group, and systemic level  

Reducing Stigma of SUD 

Using affirming language is a way that we can work against stigma daily. Some examples include: 

  • “Substance use disorder” instead of “substance abuse” or “habit” 
  • “Person with a substance use disorder” instead of “addict,” “alcoholic” or “abuser”
  • “In recovery” instead of “clean”
  • “Risky” instead of “problem”
  • When referring to toxicology results, use “positive results” instead of “clean results” and “negative results” instead of “dirty results”  

If you hear someone using this harmful terminology, kindly share the importance of using non-stigmatizing language and support them in implementing this language when speaking about SUD. 

 

It is also important to be aware of harmful or inaccurate representation of SUD. If you or someone you know is struggling with a substance-related issue, it is important to talk to someone you can trust. You can speak with a mental health professional on-campus or learn about off-campus options by contacting MiraCosta College Health Services. 

 

MiraCosta College Health Services 

References 


Committee on the Science of Changing Behavioral Health Social Norms: Board on Behavioral, Cognitive, and Sensory Sciences; Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education; National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Ending discrimination against people with mental and substance use disorders: The evidence for stigma change. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2016 Aug 3. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK384915/ 

Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation. (n.d.). Addressing the stigma of addiction: Advocacy. Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation. https://www.hazeldenbettyford.org/addiction/stigma-of-addiction

The Johns Hopkins University. (n.d.) Reducing the stigma of addiction. Johns Hopkins Medicine. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/stigma-of-addiction

Recovery Research Institute. (2020, September 28). The real stigma of substance use disorders. Recovery Research Institute. https://www.recoveryanswers.org/research-post/the-real-stigma-of-substance-use-disorders/

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2023, March 8). Words matter - terms to use and avoid when talking about addiction. National Institutes of Health. https://nida.nih.gov/nidamed-medical-health-professionals/health-professions-education/words-matter-terms-to-use-avoid-when-talking-about-addiction

 

 

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