Adfam Families Practitioner Forum - Stigma and Substance Use
Adfam's online forum events provide an opportunity for colleagues with a professional interest in supporting families affected by substance use or gambling to hear updates from across the sector, network and share practice.
Adfam is a UK-based charity tackling the effects of alcohol, drug use or gambling on family members and friends.
Our next forum is taking place on Thursday 27th May 2021, 10.00 - 11.30am and we are pleased to be joined by Professor Harry Sumnall from the Public Health Institute at Liverpool John Moores University to present on a new research study on the stigma experienced by people affected by substance use.
Harry was a Member of the UK Government Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs between 2011-2019, a Board Member and Past-President of the European Society for Prevention Research (2010-2019), and a scientific advisor to the MIND Foundation.
This wide-ranging research study explores the following themes:
i) investigation of how we describe substance use affects public compassion/stigma towards people affected by substance use;
ii) how different framings of ‘controversial’ policy topics influences public support – e.g. getting the balance right between ‘evidence’ and the human face;
iii) blatant and subtle dehumanisation of people who use drugs;
iv) intragroup stigma within multiply excluded groups (e.g. how drug use adds further stigma towards people who are already on the margins, thus potentially reducing service and peer support/contact);
v) automatic/sub-conscious disgust towards some people who use some drugs;
vi) analysis of the representation of drug use in the media, and how its impacts are regularly used as a way to push broader political agendas -e.g. about who is ‘deserving’ of support, justification of public spending, welfare discussions.
Spaces are limited, register for this free event soon to avoid disappointment.
This event will take place via Zoom, colleagues that register will receive the joining instructions the day before the event.
If you have any questions please get in touch with the Adfam team at admin [at] adfam [dot] org [dot] uk