This page provides information about drug stigma including how you can help tackle it, resources, further reading and learning.
The information on this website may affect some readers. Please take care when reading. If you feel affected by what you have read, support is available.
NHSGGC Alcohol and Drugs Health Improvement
Mental Health Improvement – NHSGGC
If you, or someone you know are in distress and need an immediate response call the emergency services on 999 or NHS24 on 111.
What is Drug Stigma?
People who use drugs, people in recovery from drug use, families and communities can experience stigma.
Stigma is the social process of devaluing a person beginning with marking or labelling someone’s differences then attributing negative values to those differences. Stigma is closely linked to prejudice, stereotyping and discrimination. Stigma intersects with other ways people are disempowered and marginalised (ethnicity, gender and sexual identity among others) often increasing risk and harm.
Why should we focus on tackling Drug Stigma?
Tackling drug stigma is a national priority and it is recognised in the Preventing Harm, Promoting Recovery: Scotland’s Alcohol & Drugs Strategic Plan 2026 – 2035 that it continues to be a barrier to accessing help and support which is the biggest protective factor for reducing harm, drug overdose and death.
Tackling stigma and understanding how it connects to other ways people are disadvantaged, is vital to addressing drug related harm, including deaths.
Tackling drug stigma at all levels is essential to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for people who use drugs and helps people feel a greater connection to society, more included and more likely to access treatment and support for recovery.
How can you get involved?
Recognising stigma is the first step to tackling it. When you witness stigmatising behaviour, you have a choice about the action you take. Taking action shows that stigmatising behaviour is not acceptable. We don’t all need to be experts, but we all have a role in tackling drug stigma. Understanding stigma and approaching interactions with kindness and compassion is the key.
Greater Glasgow and Clyde (GGC) Drug Stigma Action Group
The GGC Drug Stigma Action Group is a multi-agency partnership, established in 2023, bringing together statutory and third sector organisations to deliver a coordinated approach to tackling drug related stigma across Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Group membership includes:
· East Dunbartonshire Alcohol and Drug Recovery Services
· East Dunbartonshire Alcohol and Drug Partnership
· Family Addiction Support Service
· Glasgow Alcohol and Drug Partnership
· Glasgow City Alcohol and Drug Recovery Services
· Glasgow City Health Improvement Team
· Inverclyde Alcohol and Drug Partnership
· NHSGGC Alcohol and Drug Health Improvement Team
· NHSGGC Prison Health Improvement Team
· Police Scotland
· Renfrewshire Alcohol and Drug Partnership
· Scottish Drugs Forum
· Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs
· Scottish Prison Service
· Scottish Recovery Consortium
· Simon Community Scotland
· West Dunbartonshire Alcohol and Drug Partnership
· With You
The group works alongside local Alcohol and Drug Partnerships (ADPs) and has links to the National Stigma Action Plan. Its work is guided by people with lived and living experience, strengthening collective action to reduce drug stigma, promote social inclusion and social justice for people who are affected by drugs.
If you are interested in joining the GGC Drug Stigma Action Group please contact ggc.mhead@nhs.scot*.
*Please note that this is a generic admin inbox and not monitored immediately. If you, or someone you know are in distress and need an immediate response call the emergency services on 999 or NHS24 on 111
‘Tackling Drug Stigma is Everyone’s business’ Toolkit
The drug stigma toolkit has been designed by the GGC Drug Stigma Action Group as a cascading and capacity building resource that aims to support partners, groups and organisations to tackle drug stigma.
Everyone who uses the toolkit is encouraged to reflect on their own attitudes and language and use this resource to start meaningful conversations within teams, services, across communities and to tackle drug stigma wherever it is encountered. By taking action together, we can help create a more compassionate and supportive response to drug harm.
Licence info:
Copyright © NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 2026
Tackling Drug Stigma is Everyone’s Business Toolkit © 2026 by NHSGGC is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.
Evaluation of toolkit
The evaluation questions will help identify who is using the “Tackling Drug Stigma is Everyone’s Business” toolkit and in what settings it is being used. This will help us assess its reach, highlight any gaps, and identify which groups or settings may benefit from additional support or engagement. By collecting this feedback, we can continue to learn, improve the resources, and ensure the toolkit remains relevant, accessible, and effective in tackling drug stigma.
“Tackling Drug Stigma is Everyone’s Business” Toolkit Evaluation: Survey Powered by Webropol
Thank you for taking the time to share your views.
Evaluation responses are reviewed periodically at set points throughout the year. If you have any additional feedback on the toolkit or wish to discuss anything further, please contact ggc.mhead@nhs.scot*.
*Please note that this is a generic admin inbox and not monitored immediately. If you, or someone you know are in distress and need an immediate response call the emergency services on 999 or NHS24 on 111.
Framing Document
“Tackling Drug Stigma is everyone’s business” Framing document
This resource has been developed as a tool to:
- Support staff across all sectors to frame conversations about drugs and stigma
- Support staff to reflect on their own practice, knowledge and attitudes
- Provide practical tools to manage difficult conversations and challenge stigma
- Provide education and raise public awareness of the impact of drug stigma
Workshop
The workshop is not training but is designed to raise awareness of drug stigma, the impact it can have, and what action can be taken to tackle this.
The workshop can be delivered by anyone who has an interest in tackling drug stigma. No prior experience or qualifications are required to deliver the workshop, although facilitators are encouraged to review the ‘Tackling Drug Stigma Is Everyone’s Business‘ framing document before delivery.
The workshop is best delivered in person but can be delivered online, if required. For those who are looking to deliver the workshop online, using a virtual learning space such as Microsoft Teams or Zoom, please ensure you follow your own organisational guidance for online delivery.
Films
The films below have been created by people with lived and living experience across Greater Glasgow and Clyde, sharing personal perspectives on drug stigma and its impact on individuals affected by drugs.
All language and views expressed within the videos are participants own views.
‘Stigma Kills’
This film shares how drug stigma affects both men and women, explores its impact, and highlights actions that can tackle it.
‘Stigma is a barrier to good health and quality of life’
This film shares how drug stigma affects women, explores its impact on women and highlights actions that can tackle it.
‘Everyone knows someone’
This film shares how drug stigma affects families when a loved one uses drugs, the impact on their lives, and highlights actions that can tackle it.
‘It’s everyone’s business to tackle stigma’
This film highlights why tackling drug stigma is essential to support people affected by drugs to access services, including actions that can tackle drug stigma in practice.
‘Words Matter’
This film shares how drug stigma can affect people living in prison, explores its impact and highlights actions that can tackle it.
Conversation Cards
The conversation cards have been designed as a tool encourage conversations about drug stigma, challenge assumptions and reflect in a safe and respectful way.
Prior to using the conversation cards, you are encouraged to review the ‘Tackling Drug Stigma Is Everyone’s Business‘ framing document.
Each conversation card links to the framing document, where you can explore more information to help inform your discussions.
Communication Pack
Further Learning
Access further learning on drugs and how to tackle drug stigma.
- Scottish Drugs Forum: Home
- Scottish Recovery Consortium
- Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs
- Scottish Government training platform: General learning – Drug and alcohol workforce: learning directory
Advocacy Services
An independent advocacy service/advocate can:
- Listen to you
- Find information to help you make decisions
- Help you say what you think about your health care or treatment
- Help you understand the care and support process
- Challenge decisions about your care and support if you do not agree with them
- Stand up for your rights
- Write letters for you and attend meetings/appointments with you
If you or someone you know is affected by alcohol or drugs you can access independent advocacy in your local area:
- East Dunbartonshire – Ceartas
- East Renfrewshire – The Advocacy Project
- Glasgow City – The Advocacy Project
- Inverclyde – VoiceAbility | Advocacy and Involvement
- Renfrewshire – You First Advocacy Service
- West Dunbartonshire – Lomond and Argyll Advocacy Service
Further Reading
We have gathered a range of papers which will provide you with helpful background reading into drug stigma.
Preventing Harm, Promoting Recovery: Scotland’s Alcohol & Drugs Strategic Plan 2026 – 2035 – The Alcohol & Drugs Strategic Plan sets out the Scottish Government and COSLA’s long-term approach to addressing alcohol and drug harms.
Charter of Rights for People Affected by Substance Use in Scotland | WithYou : In December 2024 The National Collaborative published a Charter of Rights for People Affected by Substance Use contributing to Scotland’s National Mission to reduce deaths and improve the lives of those impacted by substances.
National Mission on Drug Deaths: The aim of the National Mission is to reduce drug deaths and improve the lives of those impacted by drugs. This document shows how this will be done.
National Stigma Action Plan: Cross government response to the Drug Deaths Taskforce report, Changing Lives. It contains a cross government action plan, response to Taskforce recommendations and a stigma action plan.
A Strategy to Address the Stigmatisation of People and Communities Affected by Drug Use: The aim of this strategy is to lead a more informed and compassionate approach across society toward people with a drug problem, lived experience of drug use and their families.
Intersectionality
We acknowledge that stigma does not exist in isolation. There are many overlapping factors that influence a person’s individual experience of stigma.
These resources provide further guidance on how best to frame our language and communication to tackle stigma when discussing these topics.
How to talk about alcohol – Framing recommendations to deepen understanding of harm and build support for action.
Talking about poverty – A framing toolkit to challenge and change the story about we tell about poverty.
Talking About Community Justice – A framing toolkit that aims to transform the current public narrative and perceptions around community justice
End mental health discrimination – See Me is Scotland’s national programme to end mental health stigma and discrimination.
National Trauma Transformation Programme – This website provides access to evidence-based training, tools and guidance to support trauma-informed and responsive systems, organisations and workforces in Scotland
