Policy Position Paper on Stigma and Discrimination Launched

01 June 2012

The Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drugs Council of Tasmania today launched its new Policy Position Paper on the issue of stigma and discrimination faced by people who use alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.

This is the first of what will be a series of policy papers setting the direction of the organisation and leading community debate on these important issues.

“People who use alcohol, tobacco and other drugs routinely experience stigma and discrimination as a result of their drug use” ATDC CEO Jann Smith said.

“Stigma and discrimination on any grounds should not be tolerated in our community. The emotional effects of stigma can be devastating and affect all areas of someone’s life.”

Disturbing statistics show that people who use drugs can experience stigma from family members and friends, but also from doctors and nurses, pharmacists and other health professionals.

Community attitudes to people who inject drugs are overwhelmingly negative and this is not helped by the ongoing negative portrayal of drugs and the people who use them, within the media.

“Persistent focus in the media on the links between drug use and crime, rather than drug use as a health issue, serves to reinforce these negative stereotypes” Ms Smith said.

“The ATDC understands that social change and the altering of attitudes in the community will happen incrementally.” Ms Smith continued.

“However there are clear steps we can take now which will support change, leading to a reduction in the stigma and discrimination faced by people who use alcohol, tobacco and other drugs”.
The recommendations in the policy paper are:

• Supporting consumer participation in policy development, planning, delivery and evaluation of services.
• Combatting the negative media portrayal of people who use alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.
• Altering the language used to describe drugs and the people who use them.
• Changing the attitudes of professionals through education and professional development.
• Supporting family, friends and educators to understand and respond to issues of stigma associated with alcohol, tobacco and other drug use.

The paper is available here www.atdc.org.au/?p=1733
Alcohol, Tobacco and other Drugs Council Tas Inc.