The enemy at home: Images of addiction in American society

Abstract

Despite the ubiquity of dysfunctional drug use in our society, much of the American public, the political leadership, and, most astonishingly, service providers in the health, mental health and social service fields share a marked denial of its antecedents, dynamics, and consequences, creating one of the most significant barriers to adequate care for those needing treatment. This article examines the dynamics of this denial, describes the popular images of drug use and drug users in our culture‐images which are remarkably similar to those which are usually served for enemies during times of war‐and considers the roots of these images in the underlying value systems of our society.