Stigmatization of people with drug dependence in China: a community-based study in Hunan province.
BACKGROUND
Drug abuse remains a serious problem in China, and has become a major threat to public health and social security. Since the issuance and enforcement of the new Anti-Drug law in 2008, the community has become the primary site for drug rehabilitation. However, the attitudes of members in community toward the people with drug use disorders are unclear.


METHODS
A random sample of household respondents was studied in two communities in Hunan province in China. A total of 848 individuals participated (response rate 83.7%). Respondents initially were asked a set of questions about their knowledge about dug dependence, and then were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 vignette conditions. Three vignettes described different type of drug dependence meeting diagnostic criteria, and the fourth depicted a "normal person."


RESULTS
Poor knowledge of drug dependence was common. Negative attitudes towards drug dependent people were widespread. Most respondents believed that drug dependence was caused by the person's own weak will (82.0%) and own hedonistic lifestyle (81.3%), and should be punished as illegal behavior (80.4%). The vast majority labeled the person with drug dependence as an addict, rated them as having undesirable characteristics, and expressed a strong desire for social distance. There were few socio-demographic predictors of both poor knowledge and negative attitudes.


CONCLUSIONS
A community-based rehabilitation program in China should take into account the widespread stigmatization of people with drug dependence.
Mental Health Institute of the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health of Hunan Province, 139 Renmin (M) Road, Changsha, Hunan 410011, PR China.
Tao
T
Luo
Neurosurgery Department of the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, 139 Renmin (M) Road, Changsha, Hunan 410011, PR China.
Jing
J
Wang
Mental Health Institute of the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health of Hunan Province, 139 Renmin (M) Road, Changsha, Hunan 410011, PR China.
Yanhua
Y
Li
Mental Health Institute of the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health of Hunan Province, 139 Renmin (M) Road, Changsha, Hunan 410011, PR China.
Xuyi
X
Wang
Mental Health Institute of the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health of Hunan Province, 139 Renmin (M) Road, Changsha, Hunan 410011, PR China; Undergraduate Department of Xiangya School of Medicine of Central South University, 172 Tongzipo Road, Changsha, Hunan 410013, PR China.
Linxiang
L
Tan
Mental Health Institute of the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health of Hunan Province, 139 Renmin (M) Road, Changsha, Hunan 410011, PR China.
Qijian
Q
Deng
Mental Health Institute of the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health of Hunan Province, 139 Renmin (M) Road, Changsha, Hunan 410011, PR China.
Jaya Prishni Devi
JPD
Thakoor
Mental Health Institute of the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health of Hunan Province, 139 Renmin (M) Road, Changsha, Hunan 410011, PR China. Electronic address: weihao57@gmail.com.
Wei
W
Hao
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D057566:Self Report; D013240:Stereotyping; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000628:therapy; D055815:Young Adult
China; Drug dependence; Public attitude; Social distance; Stigma