Stigma

Stigma

A recurring theme from the literature on recovery from SUD was stigma. Stigma appears to be present at the very place where treatment is sought out and substance use disorder patients vocalize their need for specialized care and attention. Law enforcement reflects stigma as well in it’s large incarceration rates of people suffering from SUDs. According to a qualitative study released by the American Counseling Association in 2018, a sense of belonging was a crucial component of being able to maintain recovery in colleges and universities. The use of stigmatizing language by government agencies and others was recognized in 2017 by the Office of National Drug Control Policy. Immediate families have reported “lost trust because of stealing habits” & others are just afraid of them which all leads to self-stigma that is suffered by individuals blaming themselves and becoming less likely to seek help. 

Stigma in life/workplace - When participants were asked if stigma in their life or workplace has changed since the pandemic began, 33.3% of the responses showed that people show more understanding and 66.7% of the responses said that things have not changed. One interviewee in recovery mentioned that “stigma has always been a factor in recovery” but added that there has “recently been more support from outside organizations to make stigma less of a negative”. This correlates with another subject's response who works with persons in recovery. This interviewee stated that in their workplace stigma is positive, but when mentioning the community stated that there are still “many cultural issues and misinformation. Some still believe substance use disorder is a choice, that those with SUDs are weak.”

Stigma in Law Enforcement - The results of this portion came from the one law enforcement officer that was interviewed for this project, and are depicted in this quote. The officer was asked if stigma about recovery had changed in their life or workplace. Their response stated that they were confident in their workplace’s ability to help care for those who need it by providing access to helpful resources that will contribute to their recovery. Law enforcement officers want to be a part of the recovery process and want to be seen as a resource.