ఇంటర్నేషనల్ జర్నల్ ఆఫ్ ఎమర్జెన్సీ మెంటల్ హెల్త్ అండ్ హ్యూమన్ రెసిలెన్స్

నైరూప్య

Social Stigmatization of Drug Abusers In a Developing Country

Mian Muhammad Salman Aslam, AKM Tariqul Hasan, Ali Jaan, Muhammad Nashit Kaleem, Aqsa Iftikhar, Awais Khalid

Introduction: Stigma is a label that differentiates a person from others and associates that person to unenviable attributes. There are various forms of stigma; Enacted stigma, Perceived stigma, and Self-stigma which manifest as stereotyping and harboring negative thoughts about the stigmatized group. Stigmatization of the drug abuser leads to effects such as low self-esteem, depression, and personality changes in the stigmatized. Objectives: To know the Impact of Stigma on patients receiving Substance Abuse Treatment in Psychiatry Department, Mayo Hospital, Lahore. Design: Cross-Sectional Study. Place: Psychiatry Department, Mayo Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan. Study Period: 6 months. (June 2019 to November 2019). Subjects and Methods: Population-based cross-sectional study was conducted. A total of 100 subjects were recruited in the study. The selection was made on laid down criterion after taking due consent. Interviews were conducted through a pretested questionnaire. Data was collected, compiled, and analyzed through SPSS version 20 and relevant frequency tables were drawn. Results: On analyzing the data, various forms of stigma were observed: Enacted Stigma (81% as considered less capable), Perceived Stigma (99% as having difficulties in the job seeking and relationships), and Self-Stigma (94% in having devaluation thoughts). Self-esteem was maintained (73% were content). Social support was present (76% from family). Moderate depression was seen in 17% of participants. Conclusion: Stigma in its various forms affects the drug abuser undergoing treatment. It results in low selfesteem and mild depression.