STIGMA

Name: Analina Tone Student Number: n8602433 Tutor: Michelle Cornford ** STIGMA ** ** The Abuser or the Abused: ** ** A Drug User’s Reality **


 * The Cultural Artefact **

The Australian Government, as a part of the National Drug Strategy 2010-2015, created the National Drugs Campaign (NDC) specifically aimed towards Australian youth and their motivation to use illicit drugs. By increasing individual knowledge about the potential negative consequences of drug use, the campaign’s objective is to decrease motivation in abusing illicit substances. The campaign consists of anti-drug materials including posters; fact sheets, advertisements, book sheets and bracelets that are proposed to bring about positive results. It can be deduced that the campaign has documented the effect drugs has had on the cultural, political and philosophical levels within Australian society. When campaigning, the artefact presented above by the NDC depicts an image of a bleak reality for drug users with the woman in a dark room and a haunted facial expression. Considering the bleak reality conveyed to viewers, the belief that abusers are at fault is often valued without consideration of the entirety of the Public Health issue. As such insight into a drug user’s reality needs to be gained in order to deem whether Australia is handling the issue appropriately.


 * The Public Health Issue **

The public health issue behind the campaign launched by the Australian Government is a message designed to inform individuals about the detrimental effects that substance use has. The World Health Organisation (2013) revealed statistics that substance abuse negatively impacts health levels of individuals. In 2003 8% of diseases in Australia were caused by tobacco use and 2% illicit drug use. Illicit drugs include cannabis, opiates, certain types of stimulants and even the use of pharmaceutical drugs such as painkillers or tranquilizers for a non-medical purpose. Substance use has become a forefront issue in contemporary society with drugs quickly becoming a central part of an individual’s life. Use unknowingly affects relationships, education, work commitments and mental health. Considering the ability of such drugs to negatively impact individuals considerably, it is a large scale and continuing problem that is linked to more complex issues within society. Although the campaign is targeted towards substance users, stigma has resulted in significant opposition on social, cultural and political levels towards illicit substance users that has resulted in increasing incarceration rates and social alienation (AIHW, 2011). As a result of such stigma, continued substance use has contributed to significantly poorer health outcomes.


 * Literature Review **

Volkow (2003) in regards to drug abuse was quoted saying ‘costs alone are estimated to exceed half a trillion dollars annually in the USA, including health, crime-related costs, and losses in productivity.’ As such, it is understandable why the Australian Government has launched the National Drug Campaign. The campaign aims to convey messages that drug use is detrimental and it changes biology. It is also noted that by conveying the message in terms of offering viewers a ‘warning’, what has been highlighted is not just the effect drug abuse has on the individual, but also the considerable effect stigma has. It is clear posters used for the campaign aim to dissuade users by presenting the bleak image alongside the possible effects use has on individuals. Although it successful targets drug users, it also succeeds in alienating them. Statistically, the 2010 National Drug Strategy Household Survey showed that 10.3% of the Australian population use cannabis, 4.2% use pharmaceutical drugs for non-medical purposes, 2.1% use cocaine and 2% use hallucinogens (AIHW, 2011). Research provided data revealing that the most common drug use age is between 18-29 years, which reiterates the importance of the artifact’s objective. According to the Ministerial Council on Drug Strategy (2011), due to the misuse of illicit drugs in Australia, it costs $8.2 billion per year. With the increasing amount of drug use by individuals across Australia, it supports the view that this issue needs to be addressed. As mentioned beforehand, social stigma is critical as individuals take part in substance abuse for various reasons that each needs to be addressed (Australian Drug Foundation, 2013). There is sadly a strong association between drug use and social determinants such an unemployment, homelessness, poverty and family breakdown, and in 2005, the ABS recorded 1388 drug related deaths in Australia. Substance use can affect individuals in terms of short-term loss of autonomous function and loss of sensory ability to long-term effects such as a decline in memory capacity and increased social isolation and as mentioned death (WHO, 2013). When considering the artifact, taking ecstasy can lead to insomnia, memory loss and psychological problems. What both the studies and the artifact present is a bleak future for users emphasizing the need to address the issue. Furthermore, Criminalisation has strong associations with substance use. A report by the Australian Institute of Criminology (2010) found that 73% of female and 65% of male detainees at time of arrest tested positive to any illicit substance (AIC, 2011). Although evidence has not been gathered that supports the claim of a correlation, a link between substance abuse and crime can be drawn. Kinner (2012) also found that there is a relationship issue between many prisoners and health professionals due to judgmental approaches to care. As statistics proved, considering the majority of prisoners have experience with drugs, with a relationship that is so fragile, it will only succeed in ostracizing those in need of help. Studies both past and new have all reiterated the idea that factions in society including health professionals will believe that users are a ‘threat to society’ supporting the importance placed on social stigma (Carroll, 1995). Although recent treatment programs of harm minimization and abstinence may be effective in theory, without a trusting relationship between a user and health professions it will be ineffective. Disregarding whether the relationship between health professionals and prisoners are supportive of the rehabilitation process, there are no structures in place for prisoners after incarceration. Findings provided research that notes that 44% of prisoners released in Australia return to the system within two years (WHO, 2013). Substance abuse treatment is focused on reducing or eliminating drug use and neglecting prevention of the adverse consequences of drug use. There have been many interventions focused on reducing the negative outcomes of illicit drug use in communities. It is important however to note without substance users confidence in health professionals, regardless of the effectiveness of the treatment, the will be no improvement on the detrimental cycle of using, incarceration and further substance abuse. As a result of past studies, it is clear that the approach to addressing the public health issue is increasingly important in order to achieve the objective of reducing substance use within society.

** Cultural and Social Analysis ** When addressing the public health issue of drug use, it is important for individuals to consider how each individual is different in regards to background, social environment and cultural beliefs (WHO, 2013). Drug abuse can be seen to be a way out of situations they are facing in regards to social, individual and environmental surroundings. Evidence found reveals that there is a link between social determinates such as unemployment and family breakdowns with drug use (Ministerial Council on Drug Strategy, 2011). Because of the rising statistics of drug use, treatments targeted towards increased helping individuals fight the urge of having drugs have increased with the artifact a prime example. It is important to note that drug abuse is a result of an individual’s circumstance be it personal, social or cultural effects. As a result without an understanding of the bigger picture in regards to substance use, objectives to achieve objectives of reducing statistics will not be met. Consequently, considering the impact social stigma has had on addressing the public health issue, the social theory of moral panic needs to be understood. Mchulan (1964) describes it as people in our society finding it difficult to examine such media without moral panic ensuring. This has been further supported in recent studies made by Cohen (1973), who addressed it as a condition of sorts where people associate something as a threat to existing societal values and interests. Such moral panic can be associated with the relationship between incarcerated users and health professionals where the latter have subjective opinions on the morality of the former. This has not been helpful with the artifact and similar campaigns sensationalising such a socially marginalised issue. As a result, moral panic ensues and as such it is understandable that users continue to be victims of stigma within Australia. At present, mainstream ideologies promote the idea of ostracizing subpopulation groups who do not conform or abide by societal guidelines. In our case healthy living is the mainstream ideal where illicit drug use is shunned considering its effect causing early death, increasing bodily abuse and other statistics as found in the United Nations Drug Report 2010. As a result it’s becoming easier for society to label illicit drug use as detrimental to individuals without analyzing what caused its development. Illicit drug use isn’t just an issue of restricting the availability of drugs, but of being able to affect change at all stages of substance abuse. Understanding why drug use occurs enables people to determine what needs to change in order to prevent a continuation in the cycle of drug abuse. Telling people they can’t take drugs doesn’t ensure they won’t, which in turn doesn’t address the reasons why individuals turn to drugs in the first place - this is a weakness of the government campaign as demonstrated by the cultural artefact.

** Analysis of the Artefact and Learning Reflections ** The cultural artefact used has reinforced the importance of addressing the public health issue of drugs in regards to its abuse and treatment in relation to health and cultural concepts. It has provided me with a substantial amount of information and insight into the topic of substance use and its effect on individuals both users and health professionals. It has allowed me to develop my critical analytical skills to an extent that has allowed me to now feel comfortable in addressing societal and public health issues. The cultural artefact chosen for this wiki from the National Drugs Campaign depicts a female individual with a fragile frame and bleak facial expressions. Considering the text depicted the detrimental effects ecstasy would have on an individual, it represents the future that is available to those who choose to take drugs. It connotes a sense of bleakness and a sense of loneliness that is often associated with individuals who are ostracized in society. Although it succeeds in reinforcing the detrimental effects of substance use, it also negates any attempts at reducing social stigma. By analyzing this image, I have become more aware of the entirety of the drug use issue in terms of treatment, statistics and underlying social stigma. My preconceived understanding of drugs within Australia has been challenged at the end of my study in this unit. Criminalisation I have found is not the most effective method for rehabilitating users and it is evident that current social structure has reduced the effectiveness of any treatment programs in place. Stigma associated with drugs has resulted in moral differences, differing opinions and as a result may be causing the cycle to continue instead of treating it. I have discovered that it not only affects those who use, but also everyone in society and have gained further understanding of the personal, social and cultural effects such public health issues have on an individuals overall health. By doing this assessment piece and completing this unit of study, I have been able to improve my learning and thinking process that will only help me in the future. By analyzing such important issues in our society, I have been taught to keep an open mind and gather all the important and relevant data before I make an unbiased evaluation.


 * References **

Australian Drug Foundation. (2013). Drug prevention and alcohol facts. Retrieved from []

Australian Government. (2013). Campaign: // Resources. // Retrieved from []

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2011). Drugs in Australia 2010: tobacco, alcohol and other drugs. Canberra: Australian Government.

Carroll, J. (1995). The negative attitudes of some general nurses towards drug misusers. Nursing Standard, 9(34), 17-23. Retrieved from: []

Kinner, S. A. (2012). Drug use, morbidity and mortality among prisoners and ex-prisoners in Queensland. Burnet Institute. Retrieved from: []

Makkai, T., & Payne, J. (2003). Key findings from the drug use careers of offenders (DUCO) study. Trends & Issues in Crime and Criminal Justice. Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology.

Mcluhan, M. (1964). Understanding media: the extensions of man. London and New York: Mcgraw-Hill.

Ministerial Council on Drug Strtegy. (2011). National drug stategy 2010-2015. Retrieved from []

World Health Organisation. (2006). Constitution of the World Health Organisation. Basic Documents. Retrieved from []

World Health Organisation. (2013). Substance Abuse. Retrieved from []

**Reflections** [] []