Social Stigma, Public Health, and Addiction in Albania

Opis

Drug use is considered in many countries the plague of today\u27s society. Researchers from medical, psychological and sociological fields, as well as lawmakers, are interested in finding more answers to this widespread phenomenon. All over the world there are known conflicts related to drug producing, transportation routes and distribution, that harm the economy and social standing of the involved communities or countries. Policies towards drug use vary from country to country, but this research focuses on how stigma affects the lives of individuals suffering from substance use disorder (SUD) in Albania. Substance use disorder is not often considered a disease, and more often individuals suffering from this disorder are stigmatized and not given the right care from their families, societies, or healthcare providers. Drug usage in Albania is closely linked to the country\u27s geopolitics and its communism and dictatorship past history. This phenomenon has influenced the Albanian societal perceptions. Even though Albania became a democratic country in the 1990s, there are still old mentalities to be changed, with social stigma towards drugs being one of them. The purpose of this pilot research is to understand the connection between social stigma and the treatment that individuals with substance use disorder receive from their families, society, and medical institutions. This pilot study was based on interviews conducted in a small sampling of 18 individuals. The qualitative i