Opiate Addiction Stereotypes and Racism: A Troubled History
We’ve been talking the past couple posts about the misconceptions that people hold concerning opiate addiction and opiate addicts and how those misconceptions work to prevent those who need it from receiving the treatment they need. Today, it’s racism I want to talk about, racism and its early connections with prejudice against those struggling with drug addiction, and opiate addiction specifically.
Racism and Opiate Addiction: Today Versus Yesterday
Today, racism and addiction comes in many forms. It’s apparent in the fact that there are more billboards and advertisements for malt liquor and cigarettes in predominantly African American neighborhoods and that the majority of offenders serving time for drug possession and sales are African American. But the victims of early racist opinion concerning opiate addiction were not African American but Chinese.
Opium Addiction and Racist Misconceptions
Because opium had been a part of Chinese culture for many years, it was easy for those who wanted to denigrate opium addicts to use racist misconceptions associated with Chinese immigrants to America to do the job on a large scale. Although opium smoking had not had any negative impact on society, stories first published by William Randolph Hearst, a notorious publisher of falsifications, described how women were seduced with opium by Chinese immigrants and how they were stealing jobs from American citizens.
Not only was this propaganda racial in nature, but it turned public opinion against opiates and helped to begin the long crusade against opiates and other drugs. Due in part to Hearst’s racist articles, Congress imposed taxes on both opium and morphine. Once opium started to be controlled, withdrawal symptoms ran rampant throughout the communities that used it, which in turn brought more negative attention to the drug because people blamed the negative symptoms on the drug instead of on the fact that people were going through withdrawal from it. Congress then passed an act that made the prescription of opium illegal without first registering and paying a tax.
The Stereotype of Opiate Addicts and Racism
With these seemingly (on the surface, anyway) noble acts, the stage was set for the stereotype of the drug addict to be born. The targeted race has changed, but the racism inherent to the so-called War on Drugs makes it something of a witch hunt. With little distinction given to drugs used for medicinal or recreational purposes, the public’s negative opinion of drugs was set and continues today.
The negative stereotype of a drug addict was intermixed with racism at the start; do you think it’s still that way, or has it become multi-cultural?
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August 17th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
I was on methadone for almost a year, detoxing by 5 millis a day really does help. I did fudge up and doctor shop the emergency room for 7.5 milli perks, and that made add a couple more days of excruciating detox…but I got by it, I feel fantastic, and my bodies natural oppiates are taking affect…I have the most addictive personality of anybody I know, I was addicted to coke, painkillers, cigarettes, caffeine, ephedra, and benzodiazipine…I look at my three children and know that I have made the right choice, although I still smoke, and intake a little caffeine, I am free of the opiate demons, and other drug demons that were running my life. The only thing I know is that family can really help in this situation, keep your heads up and be strong. If it wasnt for the cost of methadone, I would probably still be on it. These people only want your money, that is why they say it is a myth to be trading one addiction for another, cause when I was dosing on methadone, I was happy to feel messed up on the shite. But I have learned that keeping a strait mind and loving your family is more important that seeking the next fix.
August 20th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
I have been an addict for 20+years. I have been addicted for Heroin for the last 20. I am now in Recovery. I have been clean since December of last year. But, I relapsed on Feb. 6, 2008. So my new clean date is Feb. 6, 2008. I have really been sucessful in my Recovery. This is the first time I have been clean in 25 years. I am so happy that I decided to go into Treatment. It’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I thank God, and my counselor Cathy, and my friends and family, for staying supportive through this past year! I cannot explain how good it is to wake up every morning drug free! I never thought it would happen, I encourage all the people who haven’t tried Treatment to go. It’s always worth a try, when it happens to you, you’ll never forget it! I just have tio keep doing what I’ve been doing, and attend some outside meetings. I will never forget the people who helped me along the way. Later, Debrinconcita.
August 20th, 2008 at 11:05 pm
Thanks for sharing your story, Debrinconcita! I’m so freakin’ proud of you. You’re an inspiration!
August 21st, 2008 at 3:24 pm
“The negative stereotype of a drug addict was intermixed with racism at the start; do you think it’s still that way, or has it become multi-cultural?” I don’t think there’s any racism according to any certain ethnic orgin. I’m sure the public realizes that the drug problem has hit every part of America, rich or poor, black, white, hispanic, asian, or whatever. But the overall negative sterotype of a drug addict in general is very much apparent. I’ve seen it in hospital emergency rooms and at doctors visits. Once they know you’re an addict, even a recovering one, the way you’re treated immediately changes. Also the old belief that, “why can’t you just stop”, is also there. Alot of people that aren’t afflicted with drug addiction still don’t realize that it is a disease and not a moral issue.
August 21st, 2008 at 3:31 pm
I forgot to add in my previous post that I strongly believe that Americas War on Drugs is not the answer to the problem. We are turning the US population into a population of convicts. Especially being thrown in prison for drug abuse.
August 22nd, 2008 at 8:00 pm
Yeah, the prisons are overflowing with people with nothing more than a possessions charge. Add the convict stereotype to the addict stereotype and it’s amazing that anyone can get their life back together after a stint inside.
August 22nd, 2008 at 10:59 pm
I also have been affected by the sterotypes of Addiction. My husband has been sterotyped for being Hispanic. Of course he’s served ridicolous amounts of time for possession. The jails and prisions are full, and ruining numerous families for generations to come. I hope they realize the futures of families suffering for nothing. For an addiction, problem, a disease that can be treated. There’s no need to lock people for years. I guess they know exactly what they are doing? Of course they do! It’s to keep all minorties down, and unsucessful outcomes for the future. I seen it all coming. I guess someday it will all be worth the plans they have for the future of the world. (as they see it?) I hope someone can start to see addiction for what it is, addiction!!! It can be prevented, and can be overcome, if they would spend some money on more programs, and health care and medical for poor people that also live in the USA. So I hope in the very near future we can get someone in office, who will change the ways things are being run now. But, the outlook doesn’t look to good for any of us. It’s never gonna be fair anyway, it’s only the rich who get to decide. Truly hope things will change? For the good of all people’s futures. Later, Debra Rincon Lopez, Ptld, OR.
August 27th, 2008 at 8:24 pm
Oh, Debrinconcita, don’t get me started on the ridiculous prison sentences for possession. Unbelievable the amount of taxpayer’s money spent for this nonsense…something like $21,000 per year per prisoner? Incredible.
August 27th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
Debrinconcita, you said that you had been addicted to Heroin for the last 20 years but you are now clean and recovering. How exactly did you accomplish it, finally stopping and staying stopped this long? What I mean is, did you go cold turkey with support, or Methadone, or how? I’m just very curious I also have been addicted to Heroin for 30+ years and I just find it absolutely amazing and inspiring to hear that you did it!! The longer a person uses this drug the more it gets ingrained in their being and the harder it seems to break off from it. Please, let me know!!!!! THANKS!!!
September 3rd, 2008 at 4:02 pm
I have gotten a few responses about how I got clean after 20+ years of Addiction. I got clean by going to Methadone treatment at a Methadone Clinic. I know it’s not working for some people. But, I can say it did work for me. I have sucessfully been clean for 6-7 months now. I attend 2 groups a week. And at least a one on one counseling session every 2 weeks. I know that I need to go to outside meeting also, to be really sucessful in the future. I relapsed 1 time when I was 4 month in the program. That’s why I have changed my clean date to February 5, 2008. I enrolled in Treatment last year, I wish I heard of Suboxene, before I went into Methadone treatment. It sounds like it’s much easier program to deal with than being on Methadone. Oh, well I guess it only matters what’s working for me? I can only be thankful for my Sobriety anyway possible. So, Merrill I hope this answers your questions? If not let me know. Later, Debrinconcita, in Portland, OR