New Editorial Draws Attention to the Stigma of Addiction
Jun 14, 2022
Did you know that stigma is not just an unpleasant experience, but is actually a social determinant of health?
Dr. Sarah Hemeida, MD, MPH, and Dr. Daniel Goldberg, JD, PhD, co-authored an editorial on the damage stigma can do and the importance of addressing it in policymaking. Published in the American Psychological Association’s (APA’s) journal, Families, Systems, and Health, the article defines “structural stigma,” which operates on a systemic scale rooted in critical systems such as education, housing, and the criminal justice system. Policy solutions that further perpetuate stigma associated with addiction, such as those that punish and shame people suffering from substance use disorder, may inadvertently worsen such conditions. The editorial also advances solutions for the structural stigma that can perpetuate substance use disorder and addiction.
Read more from the editorial in Families, Systems, and Health.