Stigma and substance use disorders: an international phenomenon
Open accessAbstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To collect and update published information on the stigma associated with substance abuse in nonclinical samples, which has not been recently reviewed. RECENT FINDINGS: Searching large databases, a total of only 17 articles were published since 1999, with the majority of studies conducted outside the United States. Using major stigma concepts from a sociological framework (stereotyping, devaluation in terms of status loss, discrimination, and negative emotional reactions), the studies reviewed predominantly indicated that the public holds very stigmatized views toward individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs), and that the level of stigma was higher toward individuals with SUDs than toward those with other psychiatric disorders. SUMMARY: The prevalence of SUDs is increasing in the US general population, but these disorders remain seriously undertreated. Stigma can reduce willingness of policymakers to allocate resources, reduce willingness of providers in nonspecialty settings to screen for and address substance abuse problems, and may limit willingness of individuals with such problems to seek treatment. All of these factors may help explain why so few individuals with SUDs receive treatment. Public education that reduces stigma and provides information about treatment is needed.
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Greater awareness of the biological mechanisms discussed is likely to reduce weight stigma, which is a known barrier for individual help-seeking behaviors in those with obesity as well as SUDs.
“Greater awareness of the biological mechanisms discussed herein are likely to reduce weight stigma, which is a known barrier for individual help-seeking behaviors in those with obesity [224] as well as SUDs [225].”
From Food Addiction and Psychosocial Adversity: Biological Embedding, Contextual Factors, and Public Health Implications (2020) · cites this paper as [225]
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- Authors
- Yang, L. H., Wong, L. Y., Grivel, M. M., & Hasin, D. S.
- Affiliations
- New York State Psychiatric Institute (US)
- Columbia University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Hasin, Deborah S.
- Venue
- Current Opinion in Psychiatry
- Published
- 2017-09
- Volume
- 30
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 378-388
- ISSN
- 0951-7367 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC5854406
- OpenAlex
- W2734529201
- Cited by
- 403
- References
- 35
- Citations by year
- 2026: 41 · 2025: 63 · 2024: 70 · 2023: 66 · 2022: 52 · 2021: 43 · 2020: 53 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 1
- FWCI
- 2.83
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- europepmc.org
- Locations
- Current Opinion in Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01DA034244)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
- Keywords
- stigma, substance use disorders, public attitudes, stereotyping, currency devaluation, discrimination, mental illness, treatment seeking, substance use screening, public education
- MeSH terms
- Humans, United States, Prevalence, Substance-Related Disorders, Social Stigma
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