In as much as words hurt and can be dangerous, the wrong information can do damage too. This is what happens with addiction stigma.

The stigma of addiction is a dangerous perception that prevents millions of people all over the world to seek and get treatment for their substance use disorder. Many people, especially here in our country, still believe that addiction is a choice, that people who get addicted have a moral failing or a character flaw. These people are selfish, weak, and don’t deserve compassion. These baseless notions fosters fear among addicts, stopping them from reaching out for help. Ultimately, this can then cause them to sink deeper into addiction. Some of them even don’t become so luck as they lose their lives.  Read More