We spoke with a practitioner who works in drug and alcohol services about attitudes that she sees in her working day. This is her story …
People’s attitudes regarding those who have a dependence on a substance is evident in many ways. From the expression on people’s faces or the comments you hear from people while working, or in everyday life when you discuss your job, it is evident that there is a lack of understanding regarding substance misuse which in turn causes stigma.
The most memorable incident was when I was working at a community venue and a person, I had known for many years who has a dependency on substances became increasing difficult to rouse.
I had naloxone but an ambulance was called as there was a risk of them having an overdose. During the two hours wait for an ambulance senior police officers arrived, and one began kicking the person to try to rouse them.
I challenged the officer and asked them to stop kicking the person which they tried to deny doing but they conceded that connecting a foot on someone is kicking. Their treatment and attitude towards this person were disgusting. Though on a positive note the younger officers who also arrived were more open to being educated.
With regards to social housing, I have come across many stigmatising views such as
- People who feel that those who use substances have had their chance and that we should bring in refugees to replace them.
- One service providers method of dealing with people who have a dependency on substances was to tell them who they were, and that they would get them evicted.
- There was also an outcry from a local community when a new homeless accommodation was proposed which led to a stipulation being imposed, to appease the community, that anyone known to have a dependency on a substance could not be housed there.
“…. It is everyone’s duty to challenge the derogatory terminology that people can use such as ‘junkie, alkie etc.’ There needs to be a systemic change in attitudes”
