
Substance abuse is a large and growing problem. In 2016, 10.6 percent of people in the United States ages 12 and older had used illicit drugs in the previous month, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While drug abuse impacts these individuals and their families most significantly, it also impacts the country as a whole. The National Institute on Drug Abuse states the cost of substance abuse to the nation as a whole is over $740 billion each year. That comes from crime, lost productivity, providing health care and other factors.
What Causes Stigma in Addiction?
Many people want to know who or what is to blame. So, how do we confront the substance abuse stigma? Is it society? Are those who use drugs solely to blame, or do their families play a part? A report written by Nick Heather and published by the National Institutes of Health sheds some light on new ways of thinking about the social and political context of addiction. It asks whether addiction is truly a disease of the brain or if it is a moral failing.
How Should Addiction Be Seen and Treated?
The way professionals and the public have seen and treated people with addiction has evolved over history. It’s possible to lay out these changes in the form of waves. Initially, addiction was treated with scorn. The individual was isolated and blamed for his or her own actions. This first wave wasn’t effective in providing treatment or gaining public support to help those with addiction to obtain the care they need.
A significant movement changed this. As the initial wave receded the second wave of response was to view addiction as a brain disease. This is a popular viewpoint that many people stand by. By seeing addiction as a disease, some of the blame shifts away from the individual with the disorder. It also allows the public as a whole to be more receptive to treating an individual or ensuring that an individual gets the help he or she needs.
In the report, neuroscientist Marc Lewis’s theory is that a new response is necessary. In this third wave, he believes seeing addiction as a disorder of choice is ideal. Yet, there are problems with this theory as well. Specifically, it’s important to take a look at the political and social aspects of the condition. That is, what does the public need to believe in order to encourage care and for those seeking treatment?