Those who struggle with alcohol addiction and their families experience stigma as a society often excludes and devalues them. While the person with an alcohol use disorder may already be in a dangerous health situation due to the adverse effects, stigma worsens the situation by preventing them from seeking help at an alcohol detox center. Although one can ignore alcohol-related stigma from strangers, it’s challenging to avoid stigmatizing views from relatives, colleagues, and friends.
What Is Alcohol-Related Stigma?
When people discriminate against some groups of individuals, such as those with alcohol use disorders, this is stigmatization. For example, some people may think of alcoholics as people who depend financially on others, are unreliable, have emotional disorders, and may never change their habits. This sometimes leads to open discrimination in places of work, learning institutions, and society at large.
Fortunately, you can overcome addiction by seeking the help of a professional alcohol detox center for a variety of services, such as:
- Alcohol detox program
- Inpatient detox
- Medical detox program
- Relapse prevention planning
How Does Stigma Affect Alcohol Addiction Treatment?
With millions of Americans needing an alcohol detox center, many alcoholics may fail to seek treatment. They may be fearing stigmatization for their situation. Therefore, many people find it difficult to find assistance for their drinking habits due to embarrassment and shame.
However, in some cases, stigmatization may push some people to change as they want to overcome low self-esteem, guilt, and shame. Others find these feelings overwhelming, leading to chronic addiction as a means to cope with the discomfort. Understanding how to challenge other peoples’ perspective is critical in managing recovery.
Impacts of Stigma on Families
Stigmatization affects not only those with substance use disorders but also their loved ones in several ways, including:
- Colleagues making inappropriate comments at work
- Friends and relatives not trusting the person with money
- Children may become a target of bullying
- Reduced social interaction
Alcohol-related stigma may make family members feel guilt and blame themselves. For example, parents of the person suffering from alcohol abuse can think they failed in their parenting skills. As such, some may find it difficult to talk about their loved one’s situation to avoid stigmatization.
Not many people can understand what a person with an alcohol use disorder goes through, so among the serious consequences includes being abandoned by friends.
How Can You Challenge Stigma?
Stigma is a significant problem in society and comprehending how to handle it is critical. One of the best ways to address stigma is by engaging in open talks about the topic and the circumstances surrounding addiction. When doing so, avoid using language that suggests the victim is to blame for substance use disorders.
If your loved one is addicted, listen to their stories to establish what led to the harmful habit. Talk to the person about the significance of seeking professional assistance. Many people who seek professional alcohol detox fully recover.
Challenging stigma can help others to develop empathy for the affected person. It does not only help the person suffering from addiction, but others in society, including friends, family members, and employers. You can save a life by talking openly about alcohol use disorders and helping your loved one to find the help they need.
A Final Word
Are you struggling to quit drinking on your own? Alcohol use disorders can have severe consequences, so it’s essential to discover addiction at an early stage for better chances of a full recovery. A certified detox center in Florida has health care providers willing to help you succeed in your recovery journey.
Don’t continue suffering due to the effects of alcoholism. Avoid alcohol-related stigma by overcoming your addiction today through individualized treatment programs at Summit Detox. Contact us at (888) 995-5265 to get started on your addiction treatment.
