Stigma Towards Substance use: Comparing Treatment Seeking Alcohol and Opioid Dependent men

Despite clinically relevant implications, stigma towards substance users remains an understudied area, especially in developing countries. This study aimed to find the extent of stigma towards substance use reported by substance users attending a de-addiction centre in India. Purposive sampling was used to recruit consenting fifty patients each dependent on alcohol and opioid from a tertiary care hospital in north India. Demographic and clinical details were recorded. The Stigma Scale and the Perceived Stigma of substance Abuse Scale (PSAS) were administered to both the groups to assess stigma. Alcohol dependent subjects reported higher stigma than the opioid dependent subjects on the Stigma Scale (t = 3.234, p = 0.018). Linear regression showed that duration of dependence, being employed and currently abstinent predicted greater stigma experienced as per the Stigma Scale. Presently being employed and higher per-capita income predicted lower perceived stigma towards substance users as per PSAS. Stigma in substance users remains a major clinical concern, minimizing which can help mitigate negative clinical consequences like delayed treatment seeking and reduced treatment compliance.