Stigma
Stigma refers to negative attitudes (prejudice) and negative behaviours (discrimination) towards people who use substances. Stigma commonly excludes and isolates people who use substances, reducing access to services and communities, and increasing harms associated with substance use. From the macro to the micro, stigma creates significant barriers and causes serious harms to people who use substances.
Structural stigma involves systemic violence against people who use drugs at a systemic or governmental level - including criminalization under prohibition, (health care, child apprehension).
Social stigma occurs at a societal and interpersonal level - within the general public and our personal relationships.
Self stigma refers to the ways in which people who use substances internalize social and structural stigma - the ways we stigmatize ourselves.
All levels of stigma dehumanize and harm people who use substances.
How can people who use drugs address stigma in society, community, and ourselves?
Resources:
ANKORS Beyond The Stigma of Drug Use videos:
People Who Use Drugs Speak Out (part 1) youtu.be/k_5DgTZWsys?si=-tuXU2eFyQ-XY-Pk
Service Providers (part 2) youtu.be/TNxEYOF8M5o?si=pfwyIaDk0Sk5cOpH
Service Providers (part 3) youtu.be/eRCNYBP05PM?si=bMiGFYt7dku-Iv0w
Youth Speak Up (part 4) youtu.be/2IfJFKlEN60?si=Lp5u_hRYkK8R6rgk
Canadian Drug Policy Coalition
Stigmatizing Drug Use, Changing Our Perspective youtu.be/NpjbhTOv-vU?si=smNpuecHqVsVtcIT
Stigma and Substance Use youtu.be/ha4yeOF6XNQ?si=QD3x-aie4vzJTq0G
How Portugal Successfully Tackled Its Drug Crisis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQJ7n-JpcCk&t=308s
Stay Safe Project: researching positive deviation in Hep C prevention.
https://towardtheheart.com/reducing-stigma
Project Inclusion Short video on Stigma:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOgMx3fEEsc&fbclid=IwAR3cVWsDxkXBqwOThTOeEpRGGz0QhA1GH0_7z228gQupqk1TJIqWUBoNzr8
- Drug war hurts drug users - how are people who use drugs harmed by prohibition?
- Intersectional impacts - how does substance use stigma intersect with other systems of oppression?
- Internalized messaging - how does stigma impact the individual wellness of people who use drugs?
Stigma refers to negative attitudes (prejudice) and negative behaviours (discrimination) towards people who use substances. Stigma commonly excludes and isolates people who use substances, reducing access to services and communities, and increasing harms associated with substance use. From the macro to the micro, stigma creates significant barriers and causes serious harms to people who use substances.
Structural stigma involves systemic violence against people who use drugs at a systemic or governmental level - including criminalization under prohibition, (health care, child apprehension).
Social stigma occurs at a societal and interpersonal level - within the general public and our personal relationships.
Self stigma refers to the ways in which people who use substances internalize social and structural stigma - the ways we stigmatize ourselves.
All levels of stigma dehumanize and harm people who use substances.
How can people who use drugs address stigma in society, community, and ourselves?
Resources:
ANKORS Beyond The Stigma of Drug Use videos:
People Who Use Drugs Speak Out (part 1) youtu.be/k_5DgTZWsys?si=-tuXU2eFyQ-XY-Pk
Service Providers (part 2) youtu.be/TNxEYOF8M5o?si=pfwyIaDk0Sk5cOpH
Service Providers (part 3) youtu.be/eRCNYBP05PM?si=bMiGFYt7dku-Iv0w
Youth Speak Up (part 4) youtu.be/2IfJFKlEN60?si=Lp5u_hRYkK8R6rgk
Canadian Drug Policy Coalition
Stigmatizing Drug Use, Changing Our Perspective youtu.be/NpjbhTOv-vU?si=smNpuecHqVsVtcIT
Stigma and Substance Use youtu.be/ha4yeOF6XNQ?si=QD3x-aie4vzJTq0G
How Portugal Successfully Tackled Its Drug Crisis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQJ7n-JpcCk&t=308s
Stay Safe Project: researching positive deviation in Hep C prevention.
https://towardtheheart.com/reducing-stigma
Project Inclusion Short video on Stigma:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOgMx3fEEsc&fbclid=IwAR3cVWsDxkXBqwOThTOeEpRGGz0QhA1GH0_7z228gQupqk1TJIqWUBoNzr8