Patient Care > Awareness of Stigmatizing Language
Awareness of Stigmatizing Language
- Stigma and discrimination are associated with substance use
disorders.
- Often, SUDs are viewed as a criminal activity rather than as
chronic diseases that require treatment.
- Stigma and mistrust of the health care system may prevent
people with SUDs from seeking care not only for their
substance use, but for other medical issues such as HIV and
HepC testing.