Understanding
Addiction
What is a drug (substance)?
Any substance that has a physiological (biological) and/or psychological (mental) effect on your body/brain when ingested, inhaled, topically used, or otherwise introduced to the body (including alcohol, nicotine, drugs, legal, illegal, prescribed and non-prescribed).
Addiction can happen to anyone
One in 7 Americans reports experiencing a substance use disorder. There is not one single driving factor that leads to addiction. Some people may use drugs to help cope with stress, trauma, or to help with mental health issues. Some may even develop opioid use disorder after misusing opioids they are prescribed by doctors. In any case, using drugs over time makes it easier to become addicted.
Stigma
Stigma is set of negative beliefs that people have about a topic or group of people. Stigma results in prejudice, avoidance, rejection, and discrimination against people in groups such as substance use. Family, friends and the general public can have negative feelings about drug use or behavior. Terms such as “junkie,” “alcoholic,” or “crackhead" are used. These thoughts, feelings, words and labels can create and perpetuate stigma.
What does Stigma mean?
Stigma is set of negative beliefs that people have about a topic or group of people. Stigma results in prejudice, avoidance, rejection, and discrimination against people in groups such as substance use and mental health disorders. Family, friends and the general public can have negative feelings about drug use or behavior. Terms such as “junkie,” “alcoholic,” or “crackhead", "crazy" are used. These thoughts, feelings, words and labels can create and perpetuate stigma.
FIGHTING BACK AGAINST STIGMA
In order to encourage people to reach out for help and get on the path to recovery, it is important to reduce the stigma surrounding their situation. Educational programs and modeling of non-stigmatizing behavior can help people provide nonjudgmental, empathic support.
Effective ways for individuals to help reduce stigma include:
Offering compassionate support.
Displaying kindness to people in vulnerable situations.
Listening while withholding judgment.
Seeing a person for who they are, not what drugs they use.
Doing your research; learning about substance use and drug dependency and how it works.
Treating people with substance use and drug dependency with dignity and respect.
Avoiding hurtful labels. Replacing negative attitudes with evidence-based facts.
Speaking up when you see someone mistreated because of their substance use (drug use).
Get More Information Here
AnotherWayNM.org– NMDOH Overdose Prevention Program website with more information on overdose prevention
DoseofReality.com– A multi-agency website with many tools about where to get naloxone, medication assisted treatment, and first aid training to reverse overdose
New Mexico Opioid Hub– Information hub for community members organized by Human Services Department and University of New Mexico
New Mexico Crisis and Access Line- NMCAL is a centralized, single telephone number to get immediate assistance and resources for mental health and substance use issues. The line is free and is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year
Prescription Nation 2018: Facing America's Opioid Epidemic– A report by the National Safety Council
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration- The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation and to improve the lives of individuals living with mental and substance use disorders, and their families