Here's to hoping for an end to stigma for people in recovery

I learned today that Roger Ebert, the film critic who recently passed away, was in long term recovery from drinking.  This shouldn't surprise me, or anyone.  What I mean is, that abstinence from drinking shouldn't be abnormal or stigmatizing.

I don't know if Ebert was affected by stigmatization, but it is my personal observation that many people are. It is one of those things that is hard to describe, but you know it when you see it.

The result of stigma is the same. People avoid asking for help, or searching for it themselves. People do not talk about their problem with their closest confidants, nor with their health practitioners.  Often, their problem becomes worse.

The cause of stigma, I believe, comes from several places: the fear of losing a job opportunity or health benefits, or from having insurance rates increased due to having a 'health condition.'  Hopefully, the Affordable Care Act will do something to minimize this since it both ensures more parity for mental health and substance abuse treatment, reduces the costs of coverage, and eliminates discrimination based on previous medical conditions.

Another source of stigma is cultural. The idea that someone who can't control their drinking is someone who is weak in body and mind. They are a failure who must be less of a person because they can't do what 'most people' can do.  The fallacy here is that 'most people' do not overdrink.  Most people do not drink at all, and if they do they drink moderately.  There are some groups of people (college students, for example) who are at greater risk of excessive drinking, but even they move on to moderation or abstinence later on. Still, many people in recovery must plan ahead before weddings, birthdays, and sporting events and think about how they will explain the fact that they are not drinking.

Advertising and media can also play a part in making drinking an option for each and every occasion.   In Wisconsin, where I live, there are few prohibitions against the sale or advertising of alcohol.  I don't think there is anything other than sports logos which receive as much advertising time and money as beer and spirits.

There are many promising signs of change. New groups like Faces and Voices of Recovery are beginning to come out of the shadows and are advocating for their rights and interests. NAMI and other health groups are more inclusive of people with substance abuse issues.  There is more and more information and attention of alcohol use as a public health issue every day.  Behavioral health services and support groups like SMART Recovery are expanding.

Roger Ebert shared his struggles with alcohol in 2009 on his blog (see below).  Being a private matter, I fully support his (and everyone's) decision to disclose personal stories if and when they choose - as well as not to disclose anything at all. But one can only imagine how many people he helped in sharing his struggle and decision to pursue the path of recovery.

Link: http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2009/08/my_name_is_roger_and_im_an_alc.html