title: How Do Indian Substance Users Perceive Stigma Towards Substance Use Vis-A-Vis Their Family Members?
abstract: Perceived stigma towards substance use may determine family members' willingness to help in the treatment process of a substance user. This study aimed to compare the perceived stigma towards substance use among Indian substance users and their family members. Fifty dyads each of alcohol- and opioid-dependent men and their family members were recruited through purposive sampling. Perceived stigma was assessed using Perceived Stigma of Substance Abuse Scale (PSAS) in both the dependent men and the family members. PSAS scores of patients and the family members correlated with each other in both the alcohol- and opioid-dependent groups. Being currently employed predicted higher PSAS scores among patients, while being unmarried predicted higher PSAS scores among family members.
authors.affiliation: a Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research , Chandigarh , India.
authors.forename: Surendra K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Mattoo
authors.forename: Siddharth
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sarkar
authors.forename: Naresh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nebhinani
authors.forename: Sunil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Preeti
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parakh
authors.forename: Debasish
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Basu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005190:Family / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D057545:Social Stigma; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000208:ethnology*
keywords: India; Stigma; alcohol; family; opiates; substance use