Millions of people worldwide are impacted by addiction, a complicated and widespread problem. That being said, in addition to the challenge of substance abuse, people with a substance use disorder face a powerful foe: Social shame. Addiction is one ...

Early beliefs about addiction were often rooted in moral and religious perspectives. Substance misuse was seen as a moral failing, a sign of weakness, or sinful behavior. Consequently, individuals struggling with addiction were subjected to harsh moral judgments and ...