Why stigma matters in addressing alcohol harm

Journal article


Morris, J. and Schomerus, G. (2023). Why stigma matters in addressing alcohol harm. Drug and Alcohol Review. 42 (5), pp. 1264-1268. https://doi.org/10.1111/dar.13660
AuthorsMorris, J. and Schomerus, G.
Abstract

Alcohol problems are amongst the most stigmatized of conditions, resulting in multiple additional harms for people with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). Alcohol stigma encompasses widely endorsed negative stereotypes leading to prejudice and discrimination towards people with AUD. Self-stigma further harms individuals through preventing and undermining recovery. The persistence of alcohol stigma highlights the limitations of an illness model of AUD for stigma reduction; in fact, many groups inadvertently reinforce stigma by emphasizing the artificial line between ‘normal’ drinkers and the pathologized ‘alcoholic other’. A public health case for alcohol stigma reduction highlights the need to address this societal false dichotomization of problem drinkers. Promoting a continuum aligned model of AUD, a dynamic model of responsibility, and other evidence-led approaches such as person-first language by key stakeholders are recommended.

Keywordsalcohol, policy, recovery, stigma, treatment
Year2023
JournalDrug and Alcohol Review
Journal citation42 (5), pp. 1264-1268
PublisherWiley
ISSN 1465-3362
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1111/dar.13660
Web address (URL)https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/dar.13660
Publication dates
Print12 Apr 2023
Publication process dates
Accepted22 Mar 2023
Deposited12 Apr 2023
Publisher's version
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File Access Level
Open
Accepted author manuscript
License
File Access Level
Controlled
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