thefix.com - Poll: Most Americans View Addiction As Disease, But Stigmatizing Views Persist

4/17/2018

By Beth Leipholtz 04/10/18

A new survey revealed that about 32% of participants view opioid addiction as a character flaw. 

person pouring pills into their hand
 

Despite nationwide efforts to destigmatize drug use disorders, a new survey has found that some Americans remain skeptical of those struggling with dependency.

The survey, conducted by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, found that while a majority of Americans do recognize prescription drug addiction as a disease, some would not welcome those suffering into their environment.

Of the 1,054 Americans surveyed, 53% viewed prescription drug dependency as a medical issue.

However, less than 20% of those surveyed would be “willing to associate closely with someone who is addicted to prescription drugs as a friend, colleague, or neighbor.”

Emily Fleischer, a 36-year-old librarian in Indiana, tells the Associated Press that she has seen issues caused by the opioid epidemic in her state. These issues, she says, include a one-year increase in children who are placed in the foster care system because of problems with drugs at home. For her, it makes sense why people may not want to closely associated with those struggling. 

 

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