How Americans Perceive Addicts & Addiction

At the end of September, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released the results of a national poll on “Public Attitudes on Substance Abuse, Treatment and the Prospects of Recovery.” The research revealed many different attitudes among a range of demographic groups.

Personal Experience

• About half of adults aged 18 years old or older know someone who is recovering from an addiction to substances like alcohol, illicit drugs, or prescription medications

Prevention

• The group that was most optimistic about preventing substance addictions were respondents aged 25 to 34.

• Households with children were more likely to agree that substance addictions can be prevented than were households without children.

• Nearly 2/3 of respondents believed that addictions to such illicit substances as cocaine and heroin can be prevented.

Alcohol vs. Drugs

• In general, respondents perceived use of, abuse of, addiction to, and recovery from alcohol differently than similar behaviors and situations in regard to drugs. People seemed to be more comfortable with an individual who was recovering from alcoholism than from drug addiction.

• For the most part, respondents perceived that individuals who are addicted to such substances as marijuana, prescription medications, or alcohol are less of a threat to society than those addicted to illicit drugs like heroin or cocaine.

Stigma

• Nearly 2/3 of respondents would not think less of a person who was currently addicted to a substance.

• About 20% of respondents would think less of a relative or friend upon discovering that that individual was recovering from an addiction.

• Almost 75% of young adults believe that individuals with alcoholism would be able to curb their addiction with willpower. A large number of respondents in the 18 to 24 age group felt that willpower was a decisive factor in recovery from addiction; this group was nearly twice as large as the general public.

Age

• The 25-34 age group was most optimistic about recovering addicts leading productive lives. The 65 and above bracket was least optimistic.

• Overall, age seemed to correlate with increasingly negative or pessimistic attitudes towards addicts, addiction, and the possibility of recovery. Older individuals feel less comfortable with individuals who are recovering from alcohol or drug abuse.

• People over 65 years old were least likely to believe that addictions to substances can be prevented. It should be noted, however, that more than 50% did believe they could be prevented; the group just had the highest percentage of those who did not.

• Respondents over 65 years old were the least likely to have personal experience with a person recovering from addiction.

Gender

• Females were more likely than males to believe that individuals who were recovering from addictions to illicit drugs or prescription medicines would be able to lead a productive life.

• Women were significantly more likely to believe that people addicted to substances posed a danger to society. This was especially the case with addictions to alcohol.

Recovery

• Nearly 75% of Americans feel that individuals with addictions to marijuana, prescription drugs, and alcohol can recover from their addictions. In the case of illicit substances like methamphetamines, cocaine, and heroin, only 58% believe that full recovery is possible.

• Respondents had more favorable attitudes toward recovery programs that helped individuals with addictions to marijuana, alcohol, and prescription drugs than those that treated addicts for heroin, methamphetamine, or cocaine addictions.

Marijuana

• Respondents seemed to be least concerned with marijuana. This may be because fewer people knew individuals who are recovering from marijuana addictions (18%) compared to 41% who knew someone recovering from alcoholism. All demographic groups (age, race, gender, income, and ethnicity) ranked marijuana last in the category of dangers to society.

Other

• Both income and level of education were positively associated with the belief that those in recovery can lead a productive life.