Drugs, Identity and Stigma

This book explores the impact of stigma on people who use illicit drugs, highlighting the damaging effects on identity, recovery, mental health, desistance from crime, and social inclusion. It draws on theoretical frameworks and empirical data to understand how stigma is negotiated, resisted, and absorbed by individuals, and offers insights into the everyday experiences of people who use drugs.

Format: Hardback
Length: 283 pages
Publication date: 14 July 2022
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

This book delves into the profound impact of stigma faced by individuals who engage in illicit drug use, recognizing the immense power that stigma possesses to inflict harm and leave lasting consequences. Through a comprehensive exploration of themes such as inequality, power, and the sense of being "out of place in neoliberal times," this collection aims to shed light on the ways in which individuals navigate, resist, and absorb the stigma associated with drug use. It seeks to understand how stigma penetrates the very fabric of society and manifests in various aspects of identity, recovery, mental health, criminal desistance, and social inclusion. By drawing upon a diverse range of theoretical frameworks and empirical evidence, the book highlights the detrimental effects that stigma can have on individuals, emphasizing its potential to undermine self-esteem, hinder recovery efforts, exacerbate mental health challenges, perpetuate criminal behavior, and exclude individuals from social participation.

The authors in this collection, by intertwining the concepts of drug use, stigma, and identity, offer valuable insights into the daily lives of individuals who engage in drug use, contributing to ongoing discussions about a social justice agenda in drug use policy and practice. Through their narratives and analyses, they provide a deeper understanding of the complexities and challenges faced by those who are marginalized and stigmatized due to their drug use, advocating for policies and practices that prioritize harm reduction, treatment, and social inclusion for all individuals, regardless of their substance use history.

Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030982850
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022