I remember once seeing one of my patients who
had a psychotic illness. He was doing very well and was very engaged in
his recovery process. Unfortunately, a “friend” of his was providing him
with free and easy access to illegal drugs – mostly marijuana. This was
having a negative impact on his well-being and about a week before our visit
his employer had let him know that if he appeared to be “stoned” once more at
work, that he would be let go. In our discussion, I raised the opportunity
for him to attend a drug discontinuation group that we had been working
with. It provided young people with a support system and framework to help
them get off and stay off illicit drugs. Mike (not his real name) became
annoyed when I suggested that. “I have a psychotic illness” he said, “I am
not a drug addict”.
What Mike was voicing was in some way a
stigmatizing perspective about people who struggle with drug misuse and
abuse. This is the topic that another friend of mine just recently wrote
about. It’s worth a read and you can find it here. His point is well
taken. There is a lot of stigma about drug use in young people and this
stigma can get in the way of getting help. I agree.
This is why it is so important to make sure that
we have both substance abuse and mental health care easily available in the
primary health care system. A young person with either one or both of
these problems should be able to get help without going into a stigmatizing
separate program. We will know we have finally broken the stigma about
substance abuse and mental disorders when anyone can go to their primary health
care provider (general practitioner, nurse practitioner, psychologist, nurse,
etc.), and get the help and the care that they need. Much as they now go
for a sore throat, high blood pressure or diabetes treatment.
That is our goal. It will take lots of work
to get there, but it will be worth it.
-Stan
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