Stigma, discrimination, treatment effectiveness, and policy: public views about drug addiction and mental illness.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Public attitudes about drug addiction and mental illness were compared.

Methods

A Web-based national survey (N=709) was conducted to compare attitudes about stigma, discrimination, treatment effectiveness, and policy support in regard to drug addiction and mental illness.

Results

Respondents held significantly more negative views toward persons with drug addiction. More respondents were unwilling to have a person with drug addiction marry into their family or work closely with them. Respondents were more willing to accept discriminatory practices against persons with drug addiction, more skeptical about the effectiveness of treatments, and more likely to oppose policies aimed at helping them.

Conclusions

Drug addiction is often treated as a subcategor

SUBMITTER: Barry CL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4285770 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature