Stigma: Its impact on professional responses to the needs of marginalised groups

Abstract

The stigma associated with drug-use, prostitution and mental and physical illness is not just an experience, it is an active and dynamic process which is often perpetrated by professional responses. Stigma is a complex social phenomenon which resists simple definition. This paper examines the concept of stigma in relation to deviance and explores the notion of a trajectory from one to the other. It highlights the influence of public perceptions of deviance on drug abuse and explores the particular implications for female drug-users. By considering how the actions of health professionals may be reinforcing deviant labels, it emphasises the urgent need for educational interventions. Health professionals need to understand the sociological basis of stigma to create a consciousness of their own professional action. They are in a unique position to intervene and cut across this trajectory to promote awareness and change.