When most people hear the word addiction, they either imagine a Hollywood rehab scene or someone whispering judgmentally, “He’s got a problem.” But here’s the issue – addiction is way more common, more complex, and not so much about bad decisions as our culture has led us to believe.
Let’s take a quick look at our cultural history. The stigma around addiction in the US has extensive roots. Back in the day, morphine was handed out like candy, and Coca-Cola had actual cocaine in it. Then came the shift to the era of Reefer Madness, the rise of Prohibition and the War on Drugs beginning in the 1970s. It’s as if society slammed on the brakes and declared, “Okay, now it’s a crime. And also, if you’re addicted, it’s your fault and there’s something wrong with you.”
Fast-forward to the 80s and 90s, and media portrayals of substance use disorder made things worse. The message was that if you were addicted, you were a criminal and a villain, especially if you were non-white, poor, or both. Additionally, compulsive behaviors like gambling or binge eating were viewed as symptoms of weak people who lack willpower. This fed the shame-spiral, which I’m guessing many of us can relate to.
And just because understanding our behaviors is not complicated enough, let’s highlight some mixed messages that surround us. Western culture loves a good vice, but only in moderation. Wine tasting is viewed as classy. Sports betting, which is exploding worldwide, is still seen mostly as “just good fun.” Doom scrolling social media posts, for sometimes hours on end, is relatable for many of us. But once we cross that invisible, and arbitrary, line into “too much,” we are vilified and often dehumanized.
This double standard makes recovery harder than it needs to be. People don’t seek help when they think they’ll be judged, shunned, or labeled “weak.” And unfortunately, mental health stigma wraps its arms tightly around addiction – treating it as a separate, shameful beast rather than a symptom of deeper emotional distress. Addiction and mental health issues often go hand in hand. Depression and anxiety, especially, tend to find a friend in addiction.
However, our collective understanding of addictions is evolving, thanks to science, advocacy, and some incredibly brave individuals sharing their stories. We’re starting to understand that addiction is a medical condition, not a character flaw. Our brains are wired for reward, and some of us just have overenthusiastic wiring. Throw in trauma, genetics, and a lack of support, and voilà – you’ve got the perfect storm.
In the US, we’re seeing more open conversations, harm-reduction programs, and mental health services integrated into addiction treatment. The language is changing too, moving away from terms like “junkie,” and more towards “person in recovery.” Words matter, and language we use around addiction reflects, as a society, how understanding, compassionate and supportive we can be.
