Theorising stigma and the experiences of injecting drug users in Australia
Tindal, Christine, Cook, Kay and Foster, Nena 2010, Theorising stigma and the experiences of injecting drug users in Australia, Australian journal of primary health : the issues influencing community health services and primary health care, vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 119-125.
Attached Files
(Some files may be inaccessible until you login with your Deakin Research Online credentials)
Name
Description
MIMEType
Size
Downloads
Title
Theorising stigma and the experiences of injecting drug users in Australia
Australian journal of primary health : the issues influencing community health services and primary health care
Volume number
16
Issue number
2
Start page
119
End page
125
Total pages
7
Publisher
C S I R O Publishing
Place of publication
Collingwood, Vic.
Publication date
2010-05-19
ISSN
1448-7527 1836-7399
Summary
This paper examines the stigma of injecting drug use as an underlying factor in the poor health status of Australian injecting drug users. Drawing on various models of stigma described in the literature, we examine injecting drug users’ experiences. As a case study, examples from Victorian (specifically Melbourne) policy and practice are included to exemplify community and societal attitudes towards injecting drug users and the implications of these for injecting drug user health. We conclude that redressing the negative effects of stigma requires political will, financial support, increased community commitment and a better understanding of the links between the social determinant of health and the poor health status of injecting drug users.Without reducing the stigma of injecting drug use the health of this marginalised population is likely to get worse, which will have broader negative population health effects.