Stigma: How We can Break the Barrier
By Dodi Haug, BS, CPS
Prevention Coordinator
Human Service Agency
Druggie…alcoholic…junkie…addict… we have all heard these labels used to describe someone struggling with a substance use disorder. These labels carry negative connotations and attitudes, often resulting in discrimination. This type of stigma and discrimination creates barriers that make it more difficult for individuals with substance use disorders (SUD) to seek help.
What can we do to break down these barriers and reduce the stigma surrounding substance use disorders? The first thing we can do is to get rid of the labels that we put on people with substance use disorders and see them as people first. Don’t refer to them as an addict or alcoholic, but rather a person with an Alcohol Use Disorder, or an Opioid Use Disorder, etc.
The next thing we can do to eliminate stigma is learn about SUD. Stigma comes from not truly understanding. SUD are chronic and treatable medical conditions. People with SUD (along with other mental health challenges) are often blamed for their illness. Like people with other chronic and treatable medical conditions, they deserve compassion and respect, not blame.
Because people don’t understand why or how people become addicted to drugs, they tend to make assumptions that those who use lack moral principles or willpower to stop. Drug addiction is complex. The initial decision to take drugs/alcohol is voluntary for most people. The repeated drug use is what leads to changes in the brain that make it challenging to resist the urge to take the drugs. These changes in the brain can be persistent which means people in recovery have increase risk of relapsing after a period of not using.
When someone takes a drug, it causes large amounts dopamine to be released. Dopamine controls the basal ganglia, which are responsible for movement, learning, and other functions. Dopamine signals the basal ganglia to teach the other parts of your brain to keep seeking the drug so you can take it over and over. This leads to the brain craving the drug…sometimes a person will continue to take the drug just to feel “normal.” This is craving can lead to people not being able to stop even if they want to and can lead to serious consequences – this is called addiction. Addiction interferes with a person’s relationships, work environment, health and other areas of life that they use to enjoy. Their addiction has hi-jacked their brain in only thinking about that drug.
The good news is that addiction is preventable and treatable and there are many resources for both prevention and treatment. Understanding the risk factors is an important piece of prevention. There is no one risk factor that can predict a person will become addicted, but a combination of risk factors increases the risk for addiction. Risk factors include genetics; influences within the environment (peer pressure, trauma, exposure to drugs, stress, parental guidance); and introduction of substances early in a person’s development (the earlier a person starts using, the more likely it will lead to addiction).
In our community, there are services for prevention, early identification and treatment. Prevention services include classroom education, enhancing protective factors (feeling bonded to school/community, caring adults, parental guidance, etc), and identifying substance use challenges early in young people and getting them connected to services so that it doesn’t turn into addiction.
Like other chronic diseases, drug addiction is treatable and can be successfully managed. The road to recovery looks different for each individual. Some of the best approaches include combining treatment medicines with behavioral therapy. A treatment approach should be tailored to each patient’s drug use patterns and any co-occurring medical, mental and social problems.
Information for this article was take from
https://nida.nih.gov/. To find prevention and treatment programming in the Watertown area, you can go to the Family Resource Directory at
https://www.humanserviceagency.org/NEPrevention/neprcwhy; or visit Helpline Center at
https://www.helplinecenter.org/2-1-1/ or call 2-1-1 or text 898211.
For more information, contact the NE Prevention Resource Center at the Human Service Agency at (605) 884-3516 or visit
www.humanserviceagency.org/NEPrevention. To stay informed, follow us on Facebook
www.facebook.com/NEPRC.HSA.