An investigation of stigma in individuals receiving treatment for substance abuse.
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.
Luoma
Jason B
JB
University of Nevada, Reno, Department of Psychology/296, Reno, NV 89557, USA. jbluoma@gmail.com
Twohig
Michael P
MP
Waltz
Thomas
T
Hayes
Steven C
SC
Roget
Nancy
N
Padilla
Michelle
M
Fisher
Gary
G
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012649:Self Concept; D012752:Shame; D013240:Stereotyping; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires