The use of alcohol and other drugs is an important public health problem worldwide with certain complexity in understanding about the subject and in prevention and treatment actions. The aim of this paper is to present a bibliographic revision about social stigma and alcohol use. Studies that investigate the social stigma related with alcohol and other drugs users suggest that such association presents an important impact both in definition of public policy and in prevention and treatment actions. Moralization and stereotype associated to users can influence direct or indirectly the quality and outcomes of treatment and prevention of drug use. Nevertheless, studies and actions that aim to decrease the impact of stigma in quality of users assistance are relevant.
Stigmatization; stereotyping; substance-related disorders