“You're Nothing But a Junkie”: Multiple Experiences of Stigma in an Aging Methadone Maintenance Population

ABSTRACT

Whereas research has addressed the impact of mental illness stigma on treatment-seeking attitudes and behaviors, the effects of other stigmas such as age, race, drug addiction, and poverty have received far less attention. In addition, research has not sufficiently addressed the potential additive effect of stigma on individuals who are experiencing multiple stigmas simultaneously. In an attempt to explore the impact of experiencing multiple stigmas, this qualitative study examined the existence and experiences of stigma in a sample of older adult methadone maintenance clients. Semistructured interviews with 24 older adults in a methadone program were conducted and analyzed using an inductive content analysis approach. Results reveal 8 distinct stigmas experienced by this sample. Additionally, respondents who reported more stigmas were more likely to identify stigma as a barrier to substance abuse and mental health treatment. These findings reinforce the importance of recognizing the ways in which the burden of multiple stigmas impacts our most vulnerable populations. Implications for clinical practice and future research are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Stigma
• aging
• drug addiction
• methadone
• barriers to treatment

This work was supported by the John A. Hartford Foundation and the Council on Social Work Education Minority Fellowship Award. Special thanks to Nancy Grote, PhD; Charlotte Brown, PhD; Lindsey Smith, MSW; Latika Davis-Jones, MSW; and Faith Brebbnor, MPH for support and critical review of this article.