What is Stigma?
Understand the basics, from the types of stigma to how it impacts daily life for real people.
Individuals with a substance use disorder face stigma and discrimination.
This stigma has entrenched addiction as a public health issue. It manifests as discrimination on individual and systems levels. Varying by race and other demographic characteristics, addiction stigma perpetuates the disease. It becomes a major barrier to treatment, harm reduction, and recovery.
Despite decades of public education campaigns, only a minority of people accept addiction as the treatable disease that it is. This misconception must change so that people can receive the support that they need to be successful.
