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Article

The complexity of stigma demands nuanced debate

Details

Citation

Morris J & Nicholls J (2025) The complexity of stigma demands nuanced debate. Addiction Research & Theory. https://doi.org/10.1080/16066359.2025.2509632

Abstract
First paragraph: Morris et al. (Citation2024) respond to recent claims that societal disapproval may help reduce ¡®substance use and addiction¡¯ (SUA) (Vanyukov Citation2023a, Citation2023b) by approaching the issue as an empirical question: specifically, to what extent ¡®disapproval¡¯ in real-world settings risks manifesting as stigmatization. In response, Vanyukov and Kirisci (Citation2024) reject this cautionary position, arguing instead for disapproval toward SUA to become a normative ¡®consensus¡¯. They further suggest that over-extending the concept of stigma, such that it encompasses ¡®legitimate disapproval¡¯, risks suppressing reasonable perspectives. We agree that it is essential to examine the distinction between norms and stigmatization, which we discuss below. However, we believe the original question ¨C what does ¡®beneficial disapproval¡¯ look like in practice ¨C remains unanswered.

Journal
Addiction Research & Theory

StatusEarly Online
Publication date online31/05/2025
Date accepted by journal19/05/2025
PublisherInforma UK Limited
ISSN1606-6359
eISSN1476-7392

People (1)

Dr James Nicholls

Dr James Nicholls

Senior Lecturer in Public Health, Health Sciences Stirling