Alcohol use disorders (AUD) are among the most highly stigmatized medical conditions, BMC Health Services Research reported in a January 2023 article titled Public stigma and treatment preferences for alcohol use disorders.

“Only a minority of individuals with AUD seek treatment, and stigma is one of the most prominent barriers to treatment-seeking,” the authors state in the report.

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), stigma refers to negative judgments, avoidance, and discrimination levied against those who are devalued for any number of reasons, including having a mental health condition such as AUD. People with AUD can feel isolated and rejected because they have come to believe that the negative attitudes and false beliefs about AUD they have heard from others — or have picked up from society at large–apply to them. Some may even sense stigmatizing attitudes from their healthcare providers, which can compromise their care.

“The consequences of stigma can be severe,” the NIAAA report states. “It is part of the reason so few people with AUD in the U.S. receive treatment. Research indicates that the more stigma perceived by a person with AUD, the less likely they are to seek treatment. Thus, recognizing and addressing stigma can help remove a barrier to care for people in need.”

Stigma toward those with an SUD is not limited to the United States.

NHS Inform, Scotland’s national health information service, in an online article (https://www.nhsinform.scot/campaigns/challenging-drug-and-alcohol-stigma/), states: “A drug or alcohol problem is a health condition. People should receive help and support, not judgment.”

The article, titled Challenging drug and alcohol stigma: Let’s end the stigma, states:

Drug and alcohol stigma:

• stops people who need treatment and support from getting help as they feel judged

• affects the friends and family of people struggling with an alcohol or drug problem

• affects organizations and people who provide support.

“People struggling with an alcohol or drug problem should get the same support and treatment as those with any other health condition,” NHS states. “This should be without fear of judgment.”

NHS goes on to explain that substance use has been seen as a lifestyle choice or the result of poor decisions. It has also been described or viewed as a mistake or the result of moral weakness. This is stigmatizing and unhelpful. It shows a connection between drug or alcohol use and personal failings. This allows substance use to be linked to character or morals. Viewing this as just a personal issue adds to stigma.

Banyan Treatment Centers, with facilities in seven U.S. states, concurs with NHS Inform.

What many people neglect to realize is that alcoholism is a disease with a wide spectrum of severity, says Banyan. Because many people are quick to jump to the worst-case scenarios, the stigma attached to alcoholism often linked people with drinking problems to characteristics such as laziness, lack of willpower, failure, violent tendencies, argumentative behaviors, and irresponsibility.

Banyan echoes what research has found: “In reality, alcohol use disorders are a disease that can stem from a variety of uncontrollable factors such as genetics, mental health problems, exposure to trauma, or their upbringing.”

Another European addiction research publishing hub, Karger, states that stigma towards people diagnosed with alcohol use disorder (AUD) is disturbingly prevalent and has remained stable over the past decades. It has been conceptualized as a way to “keep people in” by defining perceived boundaries of socially acceptable behaviour and punishing those who cross these boundaries.

The Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, with its program Smashing the Stigma of Addiction, states: “Today, the stigma of addiction is seen as a primary barrier to effective addiction prevention, treatment and recovery efforts at the individual, family, community and societal levels. Addiction stigma prevents too many people from getting the help they need.”

The Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation is not alone in campaigning to end the stigma of addiction. Washington’s Comprehensive Healthcare March 18, 2024 blog post, Understanding Substance Use Disorders: Breaking the Stigma and Seeking Help, by Cassidy Brown, states:

“By breaking the stigma surrounding SUDs and encouraging individuals to seek help, we can promote recovery and improve overall well-being.”

Despite increased awareness and efforts to address substance abuse, Brown wrote, stigma continues to hinder individuals from seeking help for their struggles. This stigma creates barriers to treatment and support, perpetuating the cycle of addiction and its detrimental effects on physical and mental health.