Frischknecht, Beckhmann, Heinrich, Kniest, Nakovics, (20), and their colleagues conducted a study that assessed the vicious circle of stigmatization, anxiety, depressiveness, and low quality associated with heroin addicts. They noted that stigmatization may cause discrimination, loss of status and separation. Although stigmatization attitudes serve as an individuals protective measure to abstain from addiction in some people, to others it may lead to adverse outcomes among those who dont want to refrain. In this regard, the negative impacts of stigmatization dates to its infancy. Those who stigmatize drug users are reported to have no contact with users. While both Palamer (203) and Frischknecht et al., (20) identify and discuss the aspects of stigma, including its role in increasing addiction and its effects on individual and society, this essay extends the problem of stigmatization of drug addicts through exploring the reasons why drug addicts are stigmatized. Emancipating the public on an objectified information on drugs may lessen the effects of stigma, hence a greater way to fight addiction as a health issue, as opposed to a moral issue.
According to a study by Palamar (203), a respondent who is old, a drug
user and links with users stand s a higher chance to report that alcohol is actually a drug. The study further reveals that white, older, users and exposed to users respondents termed nicotine as a drug especially on the female clique. On whites, religious and those who report higher stigmatization stands a higher chance of terming addiction as a choice. Females with the first degree are prone to do otherwise. Nonwhite, older and those who have experienced stigmatization stands a high chance to reveal the bad effects of marijuana and heroin. Exposure, higher degree and drug use altered the same. According to Frischknecht et al., 20, even in politics, people discriminate candidates who have had history of drug addiction. For instance, Non-whites, who have faced stigmatization and are religious could not vote for a candidate who is a drug addict. Those with a degree, use drugs and relate with drug users had a higher chance of voting for an addicted candidate. Individuals inclined to religiosity, and had been stigmatized at higher levels have a low chance to agree that they would use drugs if they were legal. This shows that educated people will rarely stigmatize drug addicts as compared to the rest of population.