Truth: Shame is generally considered an ineffective and harmful approach to address addiction. It can intensify feelings of inadequacy, making it harder for people to seek help or find their path to recovery. Addiction is often internalized by a person using substances as a reflection of their worth, continuing the the cycle of substance use as a form of self-medication. When people feel shame, they might hide their struggles and avoid seeking support because of fear of judgement and stigma.
Our common language contributes to this stigma and perpetuates shame, like describing someone as a “junkie” or a “crack/meth-head”, and referring to abstinence as “getting clean” – implying that when people use substances, they are dirty (Pickard, H. 2017).
By focusing on compassion, self-acceptance, and trauma-informed care, we can help break the cycle of shame, supporting individuals in their journey towards healing and recovery. It has been said, and proven, that the opposite of addiction is connection (Morgan, A., 2019).
Sources:
- Morgan, O. J. (2019). Addiction, Attachment, Trauma and Recovery: The Power of Connection (Norton Series on Interpersonal Neurobiology). WW Norton & Company. https://books.google.ca/books?id=MzOpDwAAQBAJ&lpg=PT10&ots=PBTIScfpVq&dq=opposite%20of%20addiction%20is%20connection&lr&pg=PT10#v=onepage&q=opposite%20of%20addiction%20is%20connection&f=false
- Gaba, S. (2019). Psychology Today. The Link Between Addiction And Shame | Psychology Today
- Gateway Foundation, Sep. 2024. How Shame Impacts Addiction & Recovery | Gateway Foundation
- Pickard H. Responsibility without Blame for Addiction. Neuroethics. 2017;10(1):169-180. doi: 10.1007/s12152-016-9295-2. Epub 2017 Jan 7. PMID: 28725286; PMCID: PMC5486507. Responsibility without Blame for Addiction - PMC