Two hundred and fifty-six respondents from a small, upper-midwestern college town answered a questionnaire designed to assess their first impression images of the term "drug addict." The results indicated that the overwhelming image was of a disoriented, unhealthy, thin, low-class, male "hippie" with behavioral and skin problems who suffered from a disease. Only 11% of the responses described the condition as a crime. This study is compared with a previous, similar study of the first impression of the term "alcoholic," and suggestions are provided to explain the categorization of the conditions as disease states.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Dean et al. (1984) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 3 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: