{"id":18682,"date":"2022-06-29T15:47:04","date_gmt":"2022-06-29T22:47:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/drugpolicy.ca\/?p=18682"},"modified":"2022-07-12T08:32:31","modified_gmt":"2022-07-12T15:32:31","slug":"the-impact-of-stigma-and-avoiding-stigmatizing-language","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.drugpolicy.ca\/fr\/the-impact-of-stigma-and-avoiding-stigmatizing-language\/","title":{"rendered":"The Impact of Stigma and Avoiding Stigmatizing Language"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Stigma is a mark or characteristic connected to negative attitudes or beliefs about people because of who they are, what they do, or their circumstances in life. Negative attitudes or beliefs could be about race, social class, and even behaviour. Many people who currently use drugs or have used drugs in the past may experience stigma on a frequent or daily basis. Because many of the activities around substance use\u2014like possessing or dealing drugs\u2014are criminalized, people who use substances are often stigmatized as both people who use substances and criminals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stigma is harmful because it creates real barriers to people accessing health care, legal support and important social services<\/a>, creating a perpetual harmful cycle where those who would most benefit from help cannot access it and are further marginalized in society. People are less likely to seek help for substance use disorder because of the shame associated with stigma. They are more likely to use substances alone, greatly increasing their risk of death because there will be no one to intervene should they overdose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Avoiding Stigmatizing Narratives<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Perpetuating stigmatizing stereotypes by advancing inaccurate narratives can also have harmful consequences for people affected by substance use disorder. These narratives often don\u2019t reflect the lived realities of the people involved. Here are a few to avoid:<\/p>\n\n\n\n