An investigation of stigma in individuals receiving treatment for substance abuse

Abstract This study examined the impact of stigma on patients in substance abuse treatment. Patients ( N = 197) from fifteen residential and outpatient substance abuse treatment facilities completed a survey focused on their experiences with stigma as well as other measures of drug use and functioni...

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Published inAddictive behaviors Vol. 32; no. 7; pp. 1331 - 1346
Main Authors Luoma, Jason B, Twohig, Michael P, Waltz, Thomas, Hayes, Steven C, Roget, Nancy, Padilla, Michelle, Fisher, Gary
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2007
Elsevier Science Ltd
Subjects
Adaptation, Psychological
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Coping
Discrimination
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Perceptions
Psychiatry
Psychological aspects
Quality of Life - psychology
Self Concept
Shame
Stereotypes
Stereotyping
Stigma
Substance abuse
Substance abuse treatment
Substance dependence
Substance-Related Disorders - psychology
Substance-Related Disorders - rehabilitation
Surveys and Questionnaires
Substance abuse
Substance dependence
Coping
Stigma
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Summary:Abstract This study examined the impact of stigma on patients in substance abuse treatment. Patients ( N = 197) from fifteen residential and outpatient substance abuse treatment facilities completed a survey focused on their experiences with stigma as well as other measures of drug use and functioning. Participants reported experiencing fairly high levels of enacted, perceived, and self-stigma. Data supported the idea that the current treatment system may actually stigmatize people in recovery in that people with more prior episodes of treatment reported a greater frequency of stigma-related rejection, even after controlling for current functioning and demographic variables. Intravenous drug users, compared to non-IV users, reported more perceived stigma as well as more often using secrecy as a method of coping. Those who were involved with the legal system reported less stigma than those without legal troubles. Higher levels of secrecy coping were associated with a number of indicators of poor functioning as well as recent employment problems. Finally, the patterns of findings supported the idea that perceived stigma, enacted stigma, and self-stigma are conceptually distinct dimensions.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-2
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-1
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ISSN:0306-4603
1873-6327
DOI:10.1016/j.addbeh.2006.09.008