Stigma and stereotypes: unconditional positive regard

Voices of substance users“Makes you feel like there’s no point in trying to get better if people’s attitudes are entrenched and they don’t give you a chance.”

“I wouldn’t approach the doctor for a good few years due to feeling ashamed and because it was the family doctor who knew my family. I felt quite apprehensive of making the appointment to discuss drug use.”

Undermining recovery (UKDPC, 2010)

Stigma and stereotyping restricts access to help and actively works against supporting people with their recovery.

“When you’re on methadone or heroin it’s as if you’ve got a plague, isn’t it?”

“They don’t give you the chance. Work – there’s no point in us going for work. If you’re on methadone… there’s no point in going for any work”

The judgements about worth become quite different if we substitute ‘drug user’ with :

– mental illness – asthmatic– single father

• Why do you think this is?

Public attitudes

Public attitudes to drug dependency, in particular, are perpetuated through the media including press, television, and celebrities.

Public attitudes

Prevention strategies – warning people of the dangers of drug taking – can have a negative effect on public attitudes towards people who do have problems with drugs.

Professional roles in de-stigmatisation (ACMD 2012)

• There is evidence that training for professionals, especially through contact with service users, reduces stigmatising attitudes.

• Also, working with other agencies, including employers, schools and the media can increase recovery chances for people with problematic use.

• Focusing on positive stories of change also reduces self stigma.

What else can we do? • Throughout this learning resource, you will be exposed to many

stories from people in recovery, and their carers. You will learn what helps them and what hinders them in their recovery journey.

• You will see how enabling mutual aid, support and recovery principles helps people to feel positive about themselves and their families. This, in turn, reduces the stigma cycle.

• It is hoped that you will also feel more empowered to challenge stigma you encounter in helping agencies or individuals, through developing your knowledge and skills for working with substance use. You will then be better able to provide more chances of recovery for those you come into contact with.

References• Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (2012) Recovery from drug and alcohol

dependence: an overview of the evidence. London: ACMD.

• UKDPC (2010) Getting Serious about Stigma: the problem with stigmatising drug users. Available online at: http://www.ukdpc.org.uk/