Policies for recovery from drug use: Differences between public stigma and perceived stigma and associated factors

Original research
by
Luo, Tingyu, Shuping Xu & Kun Zhang

Release Date

2024

Geography

China

Language of Resource

English

Full Text Available

No

Open Access / OK to Reproduce

No

Peer Reviewed

Yes

Objective

Some studies measure public stigma by assessing stigma perceived by those who use drugs, while others investigate attitudes towards them among the general public. This study aimed to compare perceived and public stigma, and factors related to these two variables.

Findings/Key points

Public stigma was significantly higher than perceived stigma. The findings indicated that gender, knowledge of drugs, family relationships with people who use drugs, attributions of drug use and social distance were significantly related to levels of public stigma. Among those who use drugs, perceived stigma was significantly correlated with age, marital status, duration of drug abstinence and social distance.

Design/methods

Cross-sectional survey in China of two samples: males who used drugs (N = 257) and the general public (N = 376).

Keywords

About PWUD
Stigma