Keywords
Social Exclusion
Stigma
Rehabilitation
Manipur
Categories
How to Cite
Abstract
Drug addiction is not merely a personal health issue, but a profound social problem affected by stigma, exclusion and system inequality. The paper is a sociological inquiry into the phenomena of marginalization and social exclusion faced by the drug users in Churachandpur, Manipur, drawing upon the theoretical frames of Social Exclusion theory, Labeling theory and Structural Inequality theory. Using qualitative method and supplementing the argument with case narratives and extant literature, the research explores how the frequent stereotyping of drug users as criminal, immoral, and HIV-carrying persons led them to be discriminated in the family, community, workplace, healthcare settings and rehabilitation services. Findings reveal that stigma affects the healthcare, employment and social support opportunities of drug addicts leading them into cycle of addiction, poverty and social exclusion. The historical stigma of intravenous drug use in connection with the HIV-AIDS epidemic has further aggravated public animosity towards the affected groups and created further social barriers in the process of reintegration of recovering addicts into the social milieu. Findings of the study point out the negative impact of the punitive institutional measures on the reintegration and rehabilitations of drug addicts, and argues that drug addiction needs to be perceived as a matter of public health and social justice rather than moral perversion. Policy and program implications are proposed, focusing on inclusionary practices, harm reduction, community-based rehabilitation, and awareness campaigns to combat stigma, address structural barriers and ensure seamless social reintegration of recovering drug addicts.
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