[This is the fifth part in a series that examines what stigma looks like and how it damages those who receive it.]

While people believe they are justified in stigmatizing someone in recovery from an alcohol (or other substance) use disorder, their stigmatizing is based on false, negative belief held about a person, or group of people. Stigma is actually  far more a reflection of those to stigmatize than on those they are stigmatizing.

As Landmark Recovery states on its website, people who struggle with substance use disorder constantly contend with stigma.

For example, many people see someone with an addiction and think:

• Addiction is a choice, that person chooses to take drugs

• That person has no willpower whatsoever

• There’s nothing you can do to help an addict

• Addicts are criminals

• Addiction is not a disease

While all these reactions are commonplace, it doesn’t make it easy if you’re on the receiving end of this stigma, Landmark points out.

Sadly, Landmark continues, stigma also affects people with mental health disorders like schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder, depression, and anxiety.

“It’s common for people to struggle with substance abuse as well as a mental health disorder,” states Landmark, “which can further compound their difficulties. This is known as a co-occurring disorder or dual diagnosis.”

Another recovery facility, the Ranch at Dove Tree, offers sound advice:

“Remember, your addiction is a disease that’s caused significant change in your brain. The stigma you feel is often brought on by a society that doesn’t understand or has ill-founded opinions.”

It is important for those in recovery or treatment, however, to remember a quote by Roy T. Bennett: “What people think of you is none of your business.

The most destructive thing you would ever do is to believe someone else’s opinion of you. You have to stop letting other people’s opinions control you.”

Sober Recovery Treatment Facility says the phrase is repeated in meetings of many 12-step groups. 

“There is a tremendous amount of freedom in this phrase for those in substance use recovery,” Sober Recovery states. “People sometimes suffer intense self-absorbed egocentrism, we may take center stage and perform for others. What happens quite often is that we lose track of who we are. We put much energy into being liked by everyone that we forget what we stand for and what we truly care about.”

This is a big step in recovery, Sober Recovery goes on to say.

“Accepting that you can disagree with someone’s opinions, beliefs, lifestyle and ways of doing things without being disagreeable is immensely empowering and unifying for individuals and as a collective society.”

The common stigma theory that someone with an SUD “has no willpower whatsoever,” amply demonstrates the ignorance of those believe it, because entering recovery is probably the most courageous decision someone with an SUD will ever make.

“When you get into recovery, you must make some big changes,” states DARA Thailand Rehabilitation, in Thailand. “Of course, there is the first obvious change – you have to stop engaging in your addictive behavior. Whether you are recovering from a drug problem, alcoholism, or a sexual addiction; the first step towards recovery is to stop using drugs or stop acting out sexually. Abstinence is the key to sobriety.”

Quite often, this means choosing new, healthy friends, or as is also often said in recovery groups, “When you change your playground, you change your playmates.”

Whether it’s a drinking buddy, a drug dealer, or a sexual partner, there are familiar people from your past that can trigger you to want to relapse,” DARA Thailand explains.

While leaving those friends or partners behind can sound terrifying, the person in recovery will quickly find new, supportive, non-judgemental friends in a recovery program.