• The Dark Side 💕 Welcome Guest 💕
    Posting Rules Bluelight Rules
    Notable Threads Urgent Hotlines
    Bereavement Mindfulness
    Suicide Support Anger Management
  • TDS Moderators: AlphaMethylPhenyl | paranoid android

TDS Do people hate drug addicts?

I think that people don't necessarily hate addicts on a personal level, they've just been conditioned by the government/media into believing that all addicts are a drain on society and dangerous (depending on the drug)

With these preconceptions instilled the general populace doesn't judge on an individual basis when they learn that a person is a drug user.
 
Last edited:
Not all addicts are hated, just the lazy, property stealing, welfare sponges who drive under the influence and beat their wives in public are. Functioning addicts tend to fly under the radar are don't even attract a disgruntled snort.
 
thats a very intelligent response! When I searched google for 'would you date a drug addict' the overwhelming response on yahoo answers was essentially 'no they are scum'.
 
I think it isn't only media and government propaganda. To be true, many addicts aren't exactly reliable or honest. No offense, that's just part of the condition and the circumstances. There's certainly I huge stigma towards drug use apart from alcohol, nicotine and weed. The only thing we can do about that? Prove them wrong! You don't have to tell everyone around you you're an addict, but when they got to know you and see that you're a good person, maybe you can tell them. Jawdropping included ;)
 
They hate us, we're the lowest of low to the hypocrite norm and sadly nothing will ever change for people who have used or currently using.
 
I think the fact that addiction is now classified as and recognized as a DISEASE finally is going to help immensely with the stigma of being a "Drug Addict" .Finally we are patients with an illness instead of degenerates with no morals or hearts. This is a great step for all of us suffering to be less afraid to get help. Also the huge steps in education about addiction has helped many non addicts have more compassion I believe. Yay for all the Dr.'s and researchers and educators that have made this possible !
 
Criminalizing addicts is worth a lot of money to the corporations who run private prisons.
 
One Thousand Words said:
Not all addicts are hated, just the lazy, property stealing, welfare sponges who drive under the influence and beat their wives in public are. Functioning addicts tend to fly under the radar are don't even attract a disgruntled snort.
Click to expand...

Hell yea agreed 100%
 
One Thousand Words said:
Not all addicts are hated, just the lazy, property stealing, welfare sponges who drive under the influence and beat their wives in public are. Functioning addicts tend to fly under the radar are don't even attract a disgruntled snort.
Click to expand...

I would consider myself a 'functional addict/alcoholic' and there's a lot of truth to this statment. But it's also true that people of lesser income are looked down upon as lazy, property stealing welfare sponges just because they are poor, which is a stigma that is inflicted by people that don't know anyone to any real depth that lives at the poverty level.

I grew up in some very poor areas when I was younger. There are a lot of people that work very hard to move from one station to another and if they happen to become addicts or alcoholics while living at poverty level they are looked down upon as the lowest dregs in society. I do not see things this way. I see my felow addict/alcoholic from the same lense; addiction.

There are also those of relative wealth that should also be looked upon as lazy, property stealing, welfare sponges. The only reason they aren't is because how tax laws are written along with civil and criminal laws. Take the tax evader or the manager that doesn't do anything but sit around and not bother to manage or how about the politician that serves in congress for two years and has a lifetime of health insurance and pention?

Addicts are all willing to do what it takes to get their next fix and alcoholics are going to get that next drink, no matter how rich or poor you are. The difference here is, the rich individual has more channels to address their addiction where the poor individual has a limited set of channels to get their fix. This inequality helps to perpetuate the stigma that 'functioning addicts' tend to fly under the radar.

I'm no different than the guy that's slamming in an alley. If we were switched in our positions, I would have been doing the same thing as him. Sorry if I got off topic and I'll end the rant here.
 
Re-distributed said:
I think that people don't necessarily hate addicts on a personal level, they've just been conditioned by the government/media into believing that all addicts are a drain on society and dangerous (depending on the drug)
Click to expand...

I agree with this. I think people do have a very firm and general idea about drug users but confronted with individual cases (like when it's someone they know, especially if they're close to them) they might really start to see things differently. It's harder to judge from the get-go when you know about the person's reasons and history etc.

Although yes, I do think as a whole and because of the media's conditioning, people do tend to have a rather negative opinion of drug addicts...to say the least.
 
Alikat said:
.Finally we are patients with an illness !
Click to expand...
how about just people with a need... do people have an illness because they need love, won't kill then if they don't get it.. why is it so strange that people need a drug, but totally normal for people to need SO MANY other things.. guess its all in public opinion and most of the public believes what they are fed and hence their opinion is what they are told it should be:(
 
My belief is that, generally speaking, addicts (as a collectivist group) are thought of as shameful, weak-willed and untrustworthy. This has been my own experience, existing amongst a "normal" population as a known active or previous drug addict.

I don't believe addicts (former or current) are hated except by the incredibly indignant, misinformed and vindictive minority.
 
it depends it think. One side of the faimly hates me to death and tells dverybody how i am drug addict, a failure, etc, but funny is that they are all hardcore alcoholics, even oe of them is allergic to vodka because he abused it too much lol. THe other side of the family acts iwth understanding, and funnily they are non users of nothing. So i guess it depends
 
OxyAddict25 said:
They hate us, we're the lowest of low to the hypocrite norm and sadly nothing will ever change for people who have used or currently using.
Click to expand...
Oh please...this is a little melodramatic. It sounds if you have experienced this on a personal level. I agree 100% that a lot of people sterotype substance users/abusers due to what they are fed by the media and governmentbut on a personal level if someone feels this way it is probably not just the fact that one is a drug abuser but because of things a drug abuser might do. As neversickanymore states that drug abusers don't kill because they need drugs, they do frequently do things that prior to using they would never ever have done if they are desperate enough. How many times do we hear of someone stealing, lying, cheating, taking meds that aren't theirs, selling items they love (or that belongs to other family members including children) in order to obtain their DOC? I think these are the things people have a problem with on an individual level.

Also as far as substance use now being labeled as a disease changing things, I seriously doubt it. Education won't change this much either for a long time. Attitudes will remain the same. Alcoholism has been considered a disease for awhile but many people still scoff at this idea. In theory, doctors should be the better educated people regarding the issue. Yet they are smirking at the idea (most, not all). It is not politically correct for them to do it to the patient's face of their families (though some do regardless) but behind the scenes they generally see this as a copout. I see this daily as a nurse who works with all types of health care professionals. (Also, for shits and grins, there is a forum board that you can look at that is for student drs/doctors to discuss all types of issues and you would be shocked at the things they have to say and the attitudes they have about "us dumbass patients". I will post a link as soon as I find it again).

I also agree that functional substance abusers including alcoholics are not viewed the same way exactly. But I also think this usually only applies if you don't have some other "strike" against you. An example, if you are poorer or work in a non professional job, people may still view you with disdain. If you ever have a run in with legal issues, are a shitty parent, etc. Its not right but it happens. It leads back to the discussion about the prejudices against the poor in general I think.

Maybe after many years of the small changes attitudes will change. I think though, that the attitude of the government in general will have to change to effect this. They maybe calling it a disease but for those who
Use prescription drugs, the fight is only getting harder with the crackdowns by the government on docs and trying to place even more limits on pharms. Also as a somewhat side note..the fact that it is considered to have a biological basis now is only going to limit a lot of chronic pain patients access to prescription drugs in some cases. My doc said, well we don't want to increase patients doses of narcotics because since they can't help the changes in their brain it causes and it will eventually make them become an addict. Won't always be the case but I'm not so sure it will be as helpful as you think.
 
Vaya said:
My belief is that, generally speaking, addicts (as a collectivist group) are thought of as shameful, weak-willed and untrustworthy. This has been my own experience, existing amongst a "normal" population as a known active or previous drug addict.

I don't believe addicts (former or current) are hated except by the incredibly indignant, misinformed and vindictive minority.
Click to expand...

Here in Texas things don't play out that way. Then again, this IS Texas. I also don't think it's a minority that has a very strong negative opinion of drug addicts and alcoholics. I know that when I was heavy into my disease, I sure as shit couldn't be trusted.
 
Personal experience has taught me two things.

One, anyone who knows you as an addict will always view you as such and even if you have been through rehab and are over the addiction they will still see you as that addict.

'Once an addict, always an addict' or something like that.....and sad to say it is very true.

The second is that people who don't know you or anything about you will look at you as an addict once they find out that you used to be one. It is just the way the world works and no amount of positive attitude will ever change it. We have to face the fact that most of the modern world will treat drug users past and present as lepers and they will steer clear of us at all costs. We are a liability to the 'norm' and we are on a different playing field than people that have never picked a drug before in their life.
 
OxyAddict25 said:
'Once an addict, always an addict' or something like that.....and sad to say it is very true.
Click to expand...

This is meant in the sense that we will always be prone to addiction if we do not A. Get clean and then B. Subsequently care for ourselves properly.

It ought not be misinterpreted as meaning that our behavioral tendencies will always be those of someone in the throes of active addiction. A great many recovering addicts are living testaments to this.

We can change our ways. And we will experience a psychic change once we have done for ourselves what we've needed to ever since the birth of our respective addictions!

The people in your life will see the change. It may take them a while to fully embrace it, being that addicts so often break the trust of those closest to them, but with time the healing will be believed, accepted and embraced.

:)
 
Hate is a strong word.

The majority of people probably look down upon addicts and therefore feel better about their own social standing. Some people do hate addicts, through ignorance and lack of empathy. Others can relate and are understanding of one's temptations and problems.

There's no general consensus. It all depends on the individual.
 
^I agree. I don't think most people hate addicts but I do think that most people judge them (including other addicts!). But, as aliencowstorm pointed out, most people judge poor people, too. Judgment of our fellow human beings is rampant. I find that the older I get the more tolerant/humbled I am. Rack up enough mistakes, missteps and disasters yourself and it gets awfully hard to judge others for theirs.;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top