To what extent does stigma still affect the perception of the addict?
A stigma is a visible or known attribute that relegates a person to a substandard or less desirable category of people. Addiction may be either visible or invisible, depending on how much visual deterioration has set in. The person is labeled as defective and is subsequently branded an outcast, an example of what not to be. The person’s status, how s/he is seen through the eyes of others, and how s/he will ultimately feel about him or herself are under assault. Other people respond to the addict with avoidance, indifference and disdain. Despite the disease concept, addiction still carries a huge stigma. The moment the label – ‘addict’ – is applied, the person is categorized, and all kinds of images are conjured up, as the addict is perceived as weak or bad, part of a less-desirable group. In our culture, there is also a strong stigma associated with having a problem, with needing and reaching out for help, albeit to a lesser extent than the stigma attached to having an addiction. Expos
