Substance Use Stigma

What is substance use stigma?

Substance use stigma is any negative attitude, belief or behaviour about people who use substances, or their friends and family members. Stigma can include judging, stereotyping, or discrimination.

Stigma is often driven by the view that substance use, and the related harms, are the result of individual choice, weakness, immorality, or lack of willpower. On an individual level, substance use stigma can prevent people from seeking help for their substance use, reduce the quality of care they receive when they do seek help, and make people less likely to seek help again in the future. On a societal level, substance use stigma impacts the way governing bodies address, respond, and fund substance use issues and concerns.

• Stigma - CAMH

Language

The words we use can have a powerful impact on our conversations with and about people who use substances. Research shows that the words used to describe someone can influence our attitudes, beliefs, and behaviour toward them.  By being thoughtful and inclusive with our language choices, we can avoid using words or expressions that exclude groups of people or that are considered hurtful toward particular communities. Keep in mind these guiding principles for respectful language.