Overcoming Stigma in Addiction Treatment

Achieving successful, long-term recovery from addiction often requires people to deal with an array of physical, psychological, and social challenges. Unfortunately, this process can be made even more difficult by the misinformed judgmental opinions of others. Overcoming stigma can be a vital step on the path to true freedom from compulsive substance abuse.

Addiction, Recovery, and Stigma 

It is difficult to overstate the damage that stigma can cause. Someone who feels stigmatized due to their dependence on alcohol or another drug may be impacted in myriad ways, such as:

• Believing that they are inherently flawed, which can undermine their self-esteem and push them deeper into the darkness of active addiction
• Thinking that no one could understand what they are experiencing or care enough to help, which can contribute to feelings of shame and isolation
• Hiding their struggles from friends and family members due to a fear that they will be judged harshly or rejected, which can prevent them from accessing vital sources of support
• Failing to get the professional treatment that could significantly improve their life

Ignorance is the lifeblood of stigma. Education and awareness are the keys to finally severing the connection between addiction and stigma. 

When we dispel myths and replace them with easily understandable facts, people will hopefully be less willing to cling to their mistaken beliefs. 

Here are three unfortunately persistent myths that contribute to the ongoing stigmatization of people who struggle with addiction, followed by the facts about this complex condition:

MYTH #1: Addiction is nothing more than poor self-control.

FACT: Addiction is a chronic, progressive disease that results from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Advances in genetic research have allowed experts identify specific gene variations that may predispose a person to addiction, while continued investigations into the neurobiology of this disorder suggests that both structural and functional changes occur in the brains of people who develop addictions.

MYTH #2: Anyone can quit using drugs if they want to bad enough.

FACT: Untreated addiction can degrade a person’s ability to resist overwhelming physical and psychological compulsions. When someone who has developed an addiction tries to end their drug use, their brain and body may react as though they are being deprived of a substance that is necessary for continued survival. 

Characterizing the effort to achieve recovery as simply a matter of summoning appropriate self-discipline indicates a fundamental mischaracterization of a complex behavioral health condition.

MYTH #3: Addiction is a moral failure.

FACT: Morality has no impact on a person’s risk for developing a substance use disorder, nor does it influence their ability to achieve successful, long-term recovery. While people are in the midst of active addiction, they may make decisions or engage in behaviors that are not consistent with their moral beliefs – but contrary to supporting the myth that addiction is immoral, these experiences simply reinforce the degree to which addiction can negatively impact how people think and act. 

When an individual gets the help they need to end their substance abuse and begin to live a drug-free life, they will have the strength and clarity to once again act in accordance with their personal values.

How Are People And Organizations Reducing Stigma Surrounding Addiction and Recovery?

As we alluded to earlier in this post, reducing stigma about substance abuse disorders requires education and awareness. Here are a just a few examples of the many ways that individuals and organizations throughout the U.S. are using these tools to eradicate stigma:

• The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) published a resource guide that is subtitled “Overcoming Stigma, Ending Discrimination.” 
• The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) added a Stigma Reduction page to their website.
• The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) developed a statewide campaign titled Unshame CA, with the goal of ending addiction-related stigma.
• Johns Hopkins University shared a variety of stigma reduction strategies and information on their website.

Strategies for Overcoming the Stigma About Addiction and Recovery

Here are four strategies that can help you avoid becoming consumed by addiction- or recovery-related stigma:

• Educate yourself: Developing a substance use disorder or knowing someone who has won’t automatically make you an addiction authority. As you learn about the disease of addiction and the science of recovery, you’ll be better prepared to dispel any self-stigmatizing thoughts that arise.
• Listen to the experts: Virtually every reputable scientist, researcher, and clinician knows that addiction is a treatable disorder, not a cause for shame or recrimination. 
• Surround yourself with support: Identify a few close family members or trusted friends that you can talk to if you begin to doubt yourself or succumb to stigma. Having a functional support network can empower you to overcome stigma and make sustained progress in your recovery. 
• Focus on your progress: Every day that you resist the urge to abuse alcohol or another drug is a victory. Maintaining this progress is a matter of adhering to your recovery plan and building on the skills and strategies you learned in treatment. When you’re focused on your responsibilities and accomplishments, you’ll be less likely to be distracted by stigma or self-criticism.

Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Let Stigma Stop You From Seeking Help For Addiction

If you have developed a substance use disorder, please don’t let widely debunked theories or the misinformed opinions of others stop you from getting help. If your commitment ever begins to waver, here are a few things to remember:

• Untreated addiction can wreak havoc on virtually every part of your life. The longer you delay getting help, the greater your risk becomes for incurring severe physical, psychological, and/or social harm. 
• In treatment, you can work with experienced professionals who are familiar with what you’ve gone through in the past and understand the challenges you are likely to encounter in the future. Their informed guidance can greatly improve your ability to maintain your recovery.
• Once you’ve completed treatment and progressed in your recovery, you will be uniquely positioned to help eradicate stigma and assist others who have been struggling with shame, guilt, or self-doubt. 

Reach Out for Addiction Help Today

Please don’t let stigma prevent you from seeking the professional care that can significantly improve your health and quality of life. When you get the type of treatment that aligns with your needs and goals, you can end your substance use for good and discover the hope and promise of life in recovery.

Phoenix Rising Recovery offers a full continuum of customized services for adults whose lives have been disrupted by the compulsion to abuse alcohol and other drugs. 

Programming options at our addiction treatment center in Palm Springs, California, include detoxification, residential rehab, and multiple levels of outpatient care. In each program and every level of care, you can expect to receive personalized services from a team of professionals who truly care about you as a unique and valuable individual.

The path of recovery is far from easy, but the rewards of achieving a drug-free future are absolutely worth the effort. When you’re ready to get started, the Phoenix Rising Recovery team is here for you.

To learn more or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Contact page or call us today.