Podcasts Health Busting Addiction and Its Myths The greatest barrier is stigma, AKA ignorance

The greatest barrier is stigma, AKA ignorance

Published: Feb. 7, 2020, 8 a.m.

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In this episode, I discuss how the myths and stigma associated with alcohol and drug abuse is the greatest barrier to healing at the personal and societal level.

The typical myth is that somehow an addiction is a moral failing and that the addict just needs to exert his will power to \\u201cget over it.\\u201d

Some of us need to change the way we think if we are to be truly helpful, that is to see addicts as sick people, not bad people. But not to excuse their actions either. We are not all there yet.

We stay addicted to our opinions, because our opinions are part of our identity. Because our opinions and our identity are inseparable, having our opinion be challenged can be threatening, and that is why changing the way we think is such a challenge when it comes to addiction.

The biggest driver of our drug abuse epidemic is \\u201cthe UNJUST stigma associated with substance abuse disorder.\\u201d

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