Still a stigma

Despite well-known faces like Cory Monteith changing the image of addiction with his sad overdose in July, there still remains an atmosphere of stigma and stereotypes surrounding the issue.

“I think the stereotype is slowly changing, but we still have a really long way to go,” says Dr. Shimi Kang, a psychiatrist with VCH’s Child and Youth Mental Health Program. “Cory Monteith was really brave and courageous to be open about his troubles. I think he did a lot to destigmatize addiction and it’s so tragic he died of an overdose.”

This Saturday is International Overdose Awareness Day, an annual event aimed at raising awareness of overdose and reducing the stigma of drug-related death and addiction.

Kang says that it’s unfortunate, but a stigma around addiction, substance abuse and mental health still exists in Vancouver – even in the health care community.

Dr. Shimi Kang says stigma still exists around addiction, substance abuse and mental health.

“Of all the health issues, it’s still the hardest one to accept, to get help for and to receive compassion from other individuals about, sometimes even from those who are in the health care profession,” she says. “It’s stigmatized because mental health and addiction are both poorly misunderstood medical conditions . Many people don’t fully appreciate that these are medical conditions. Additionally, the outward behaviour of people who are intoxicated or suffering from a mental illness can add to a stigma.”

It affects everyone

Crossing all walks of life, socioeconomic classes and ethnicities, the pain of addiction and overdose touches everyone.

“One of the highest risk groups for overdose right now are prescription substance users,” says Kang who has had patients die of overdoses, “Surprisingly, it’s common with college aged young people because there’s a naïve belief that prescription medications are safe – there are high rates of stimulants and opioid use – oxycontin, in that population. And when you use opiods with alcohol, like heroine and alcohol, it can be  a deadly combination.”

A medical condition

Kang says addiction needs to be treated like any other health issue such as asthma or diabetes.

“It’s a serious medical condition,” she says. “With that, people need to know that it’s treatable and people recover from addiction all the time so once can have that hope. But most importantly have that empathy and compassion because that’s what works, that’s how people get better.”

“If you’re struggling with addiction, you need to get medical help, and you also need to have self compassion. Once you have self compassion then you will be better able to recover  and stay working towards recovery.”

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