Why is it that when a famous man has addiction problems he is usually “a rebel” or “a survivor”, but when it happens to a woman there is judgment, shame or the idea of “having hit rock bottom”? Addictions do not exist outside of society. And the media not only informs: it also shapes how we understand them. Research has shown for years that language about addictions is still highly stigmatizing. Words like “addict” or “junkie” reduce a person to their disease. But in addition, stigma does not affect men and women equally. Women with consumption problems tend to receive more moral judgment, more guilt and more social finger-pointing. And this matters, because stigma affects how we see people… and also how we treat and accompany them. Talking about addictions also implies reviewing our prejudices.
