International Perspectives on Stigma toward People with Substance Use Disorders

We reviewed the literature on the stigma toward people with substance use disorders from six exemplary world regions: high-income North America, Latin America, high-income Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa, former Soviet Union countries, and South Asia. In all examined regions, levels of stigmatization toward people with substance use disorders are high, with some regional differences in the manifestation of stigma. In South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, social rejection from communities represents a key issue, while lack of treatment access or even treatment denial is more often reported in the Americas. Notably, people with SUD in some former Soviet Union countries are even denied some human rights. Overall, consequences of SUD stigma are more severe for women, ethnic minorities, and economically disadvantaged people. Stigma toward people with substance use disorders may be reduced by structural changes (e.g., legislation amendments, improving treatment access) in the long run.