Perceived Stigma Impacts on the Mental Wellbeing of Drug Addicts: A Study of Drug Rehabilitation Centers in Karachi, Pakistan

Abstract

Society is used to stigmatize the drugs addict persons. Although this stigmatization is bad but sometimes this stigmatization is worked positively as well. But the important question is that how much this stigmatization affects the mental wellbeing of drugs addict persons.  This is a quantitative study, which is conducted to examine the relationship between perceived stigma and mental wellbeing on drugs addicted persons. For this examination, the purposive sampling method is used in the study. Sample for the study is selected from different rehabilitation centers of Karachi. Total 98 numbers of people selected, whose are drug addicted. 49 participants are those, who are first time admitted and 49 whose are surfing from relapse. For data collection, Perceived Stigma of Substance Abuse Scale (PSAS) and The Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS) are used. For statistical analysis Descriptive, Pearson’s correlation and t-test are used. Finding of the study indicated no significant relationship between mental wellbeing and perceived stigma. Also, no significant differences found between the patients whose are first time admitted and relapse patients on mental wellbeing. Although, a significant differences found between first time admitted and relapse patients on perceived stigma.