Disdain for “Addicts” Says More About You Than About Them

Let’s face it—seeing someone struggle with substance use can make people uncomfortable. It’s messy, heartbreaking, and often misunderstood. But here’s the hard truth: the judgment many direct at people who use substances says a lot more about them than it does about the person they’re judging.

When you look at someone navigating a struggle like this, do you see a human being? Or do you just see their choices?

Substance Use Isn’t About Weakness

For too long, people struggling with substance use have been painted as weak, reckless, or irresponsible. But that’s far from the reality. Substance use isn’t about a lack of willpower—it’s often a way to cope with unimaginable pain, whether that’s physical, emotional, or mental.

Nobody wakes up one day and says, “I want my life to spiral out of control.” For many, substance use starts as a way to survive trauma, deal with untreated mental health challenges, or escape a life full of struggles most of us can’t even fathom.

If you’ve never faced those kinds of hardships, that’s something to be thankful for—not a reason to look down on someone who has.

Why Do People Judge?

A lot of the judgment toward people who use substances comes from fear. There’s a comfort in believing that this could never happen to us. It feels safer to think that substance use is a result of bad choices, rather than confronting the truth that it can happen to anyone.

But substance use doesn’t discriminate. It affects people across every background—parents, kids, teachers, doctors, neighbors. Thinking it only happens to a certain “type” of person is a convenient lie that keeps people from acknowledging just how universal this struggle can be.

The Cost of Stigma

The shame and judgment thrown at people struggling with substance use doesn’t just hurt them—it hurts all of us. It keeps people from reaching out for help because they’re afraid of being judged or rejected. It tears families apart, makes communities less safe, and blocks the path to meaningful solutions.

Instead of addressing the root causes—like trauma, poverty, mental health struggles, or chronic pain—we focus on punishing the symptoms. This stigma doesn’t fix the problem; it fuels it.

When you judge someone for their struggle, you’re not helping—you’re just making it harder for them to ask for the support they need.

What Does Your Reaction Say About You?

When someone’s first reaction to a person struggling with substance use is judgment or disdain, it says a lot. It says they’re unwilling to consider the full story. It says they haven’t taken the time to learn about the complexities of why people turn to substances.

If you’ve never been in their shoes, that doesn’t make you better—it just makes you lucky. You’ve never had to deal with what they’re going through, and that’s something to reflect on, not use as a reason to judge.

So, what does your reaction say about the kind of person you are?

Choosing Empathy Over Judgment

Disdain doesn’t solve anything, but empathy can. Seeing someone’s humanity, even when they’re struggling, has the power to change lives—not just theirs, but yours too.

If you catch yourself judging someone for their substance use, pause and ask yourself why. What’s making you react that way? What would happen if, instead of judging, you tried to understand?

The truth is, people struggling with substance use aren’t weak or selfish—they’re human. They’re navigating a battle most of us can’t fully grasp. Choosing kindness and compassion over criticism doesn’t just help them—it shows the best of who you are.

We all have struggles. Some are just more visible than others. Instead of looking down on someone for theirs, let’s choose to lift them up. Let’s be better. For them, for us, and for everyone.