title: How is acceptance of the brain disease model of addiction related to Australians' attitudes towards addicted individuals and treatments for addiction?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We investigated whether beliefs about addiction being a 'disease' or 'brain disease', and holding certain beliefs about addiction aetiology, are associated with public views about addicted persons and support for different types of treatment, coerced treatment and punishment for addiction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected as part of the 2012 Queensland Social Survey, a computer assisted telephone interview of 1263 residents of Queensland, Australia. Participants were presented with scenarios of two addicted males, one who was addicted to heroin and the other addicted to alcohol. Participants were then asked a series of questions for both characters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was widespread support for all treatment modalities (alcohol: 80.8-98.0%, heroin: 89.9-97.2%). There was less support for coerced treatment for alcohol than heroin addiction (alcohol: 41%, heroin: 71%, χ(2) = 273.90, p < 0.001). Being 35 years of age or older (alcohol: OR = 0.58 (0.37-0.91), heroin: OR = 0.49 (0.28-0.85)) and having 15 or more years of education (alcohol: OR = 0.60 (0.44-0.81), heroin: 0.55 (0.40-0.75)) predicted less support for coerced treatment. 31.7% of respondents agreed heroin use should be punished by imprisonment and being 35 years of age or older (OR = 0.51 (0.33-0.80)) predicted lack of support. The sample agreed that an alcohol or heroin dependent person would suffer career damage (alcohol: 96.2%, heroin: 98.9%), marriage breakdown (alcohol: 92.2%, heroin: 97.3%) and get in trouble with the law (alcohol: 92.3%, heroin: 98.9%). Respondents expressed more comfort with encountering alcohol rather than heroin addicted persons in the workplace or at a dinner party. Beliefs that addiction was a 'brain disease' or a 'disease' did not predict any of these attitudes. Beliefs about addiction aetiology were inconsistent predictors of outcomes measured.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Age and educational attainment were the most consistent predictors of stigmatising beliefs and beliefs about coercion and punishment. Beliefs that addiction is a 'disease' or a 'brain disease' were not associated with an overall reduction in beliefs about stigma, coercion or punishment. Beliefs in different causes of addiction were not consistent predictors of beliefs about stigma, coercion or punishment.
authors.affiliation: The University of Queensland, UQ Centre for Clinical Research, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital Site, Herston, Queensland, 4029, Australia. c.meurk@uq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meurk
authors.affiliation: The University of Queensland, UQ Centre for Clinical Research, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital Site, Herston, Queensland, 4029, Australia. adrian.carter@uq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.affiliation: The University of Queensland, UQ Centre for Clinical Research, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital Site, Herston, Queensland, 4029, Australia. b.partridge@uq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Brad
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Partridge
authors.affiliation: The University of Queensland, UQ Centre for Clinical Research, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital Site, Herston, Queensland, 4029, Australia. j.lucke@uq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Jayne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lucke
authors.affiliation: The University of Queensland, UQ Centre for Clinical Research, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital Site, Herston, Queensland, 4029, Australia. w.hall@uq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Wayne
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hall
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000209:etiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000523:psychology*; D003068:Coercion; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000209:etiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D011639:Public Opinion; D011678:Punishment / Q000523:psychology; D011793:Queensland; D057545:Social Stigma; D055815:Young Adult