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Utilization of Drug Treatment Programs by Methamphetamine Users: The Role of Social Stigma
Author(s) -
Semple Shirley J.,
Grant Igor,
Patterson Thomas L.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
the american journal on addictions
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.997
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1521-0391
pISSN - 1055-0496
DOI - 10.1080/10550490591006924
Subject(s) - meth , stigma (botany) , methamphetamine , psychology , drug , drug treatment , social stigma , clinical psychology , psychiatry , coping (psychology) , medicine , family medicine , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , chemistry , monomer , organic chemistry , acrylate , polymer
We examined the link between drug use stigma and use of drug treatment services in a sample of 292 heterosexually identified, methamphetamine (meth) users. Participants who had ever been in treatment for their meth use (N = 82) were compared with those who had never been in treatment (N = 210). Three dimensions of stigma proposed by Link et al. 1 were examined. In univariate analyses, participants who had never been in treatment for meth use reported significantly more expectations of rejection and endorsed more stigma coping strategies as compared to those who had ever been in treatment. Regression analysis revealed that all three dimensions of stigma distinguished between participants who did and did not receive treatment for their meth use. Stigma is discussed as a potential barrier to drug use treatment.