Social Norms? Last week, at charity auction someone commented “It’s funny how it’s acceptable, even expected for a young person (any person) to go out and get drunk regularly at a weekend. But, when their drinking becomes a problem, they are totally berated and seen as a social outcast”.
It made me think about the contradictions in our society around drink and drugs. Drink driving is not acceptable - you’re a social pariah to be found over the limit in charge of a vehicle; even frowned upon for even having “just the one” if people know you intend to drive. Yet we assume, and accept, young people will regularly go out clubbing and drink to excess, maybe take “recreational drugs”.
Clubbing (courtesy of fluidedinburgh.co.uk)
I was shocked when an older friend told me it’s normal to be offered the choice of a spliff or a line of coke at a dinner party!
The Line of Stigma If that’s the social norm why are we not more accepting of individuals who develop problems with our recreational activities? Yes I do mean alcoholics and drug addicts. Who draws the line of stigma between normal and outcast?
I agree with Dr Vivienne Nathanson, the British Medical Association Director of Professional Activities who commented in a recent article in The Guardian
“We have to start denormalising alcohol – it is not like other types of food and drink. Too many people in the UK are drinking far too much and putting their health at risk. Alcohol misuse leads to serious ill-health, premature death and is linked to violence and antisocial behaviour.”
Avon and Somerset Constabulary Drink Drive Campaign Launched
The Police launched last week their Christmas Drink Driving Campaign and the driver of every car stopped in North Somerset, for whatever reason, will be breathalysed. And why not? David Cameron has accepted that a drug driving campaign is required too.
To Admit = humiliation and discrimination At Christmas excess is omnipresent. There is a heightened sense of frivolity, light-heartedness and fun. It’s a very difficult time for anybody who suffers with addiction; drugs, alcohol, food, gambling. For them, it becomes unbearable to manage. In our haste to enjoy our own Christmas excess we forget these individuals and their families. They too try to forget, pretend everything’s ok because to admit the truth is 100 times worse. Admission means humiliation and discrimination too.
At Christmas Excess is All Around Us!
We’d think it socially reprehensible if people with cancer or heart disease were discriminated against– the way we treat addicts. How do we change social opinion? How do we reverse the stigma against addiction? How do we educate people to accept it’s a disease that requires treatment and sufferers require compassion? Answers please……………
Copyright © 2011 Western Counselling
I thiink your spot on, how is it that society totally shuns those afflicted with the illness of addiction? You only have to take a close look at most families up and down the country to see that there is dysfunction. However, when that becomes addiction too, society frowns and sticks their noses up and put on the stiff upper lip of ignorance and arrogance. We need to face this immediate threat to our young people as they are seeing it as okay to be obliterated on a daily basis!
Sadly the majority of alcoholics do not wish to stop drinking, those we can do nothing about however those that do should find treatment available!
We should educate the general public more on the dangers of Alcohol starting in the schools and through television advertising.
I live in southern texas on the gulf coast. it seems to me that in the 1980′s there were support groups evrywhere for whatever your need was. I think its a shame in our country That AA seems to be the only surviving 12 step group, I am in recovery 4 years from prescription Drug addiction. there are no groups for me. I was advised to attend an AA meeting , and lie, and say I was an alcholic. I won’t do that because to me that is game playing, and not being honest was one of the hallmarks of my addiction years. so I went to the meeting and told the truth . I was told , This was the wromg meeting for me, and I was not welcome here. NA was not for me either. I was told by that group. When can we get over our “Addiction Snobbery” and just help each other get well? I think It is Such a shame that I am not welcome at a meeting less then a mile from my home. I have to go online and go to meeting half a world away, to recieve fellowship and encouragement! Tina L Lake Jackson Tx. U.S.A.
The blog is cool