While intervention research has begun to focus on preventing or ameliorating the outcomes of addiction stigma (Livingston et al., 2012), we are aware of few studies in the alcohol literature that have investigated mechanisms through which perceived alcohol stigma (PAS) may lead to adverse consequences. A recent study found a negative association between PAS and perceived social support among individuals with AUDs in the United States general population, which was stronger among individuals classified as labeled as compared to unlabeled (Glass et al., 2013). In contrast, Luoma et al. (2010) did not find an association between perceived substance use stigma (drug or alcohol stigma) and social support in an addictions treatment sample. However, their study did find a positive association between perceived stigma and self-concealment. Rather than focusing on coping strategies, others have analyzed the internalization of PAS. Schomerus et al.’s et al. (2011) analysis of an alcohol detoxification sample found positive correlations between PAS (which they deem “stereotype awareness”), self-stereotyping based on one’s AUD, and self-esteem decrement. In line with these findings, an association between perceived substance use stigma (i.e., alcohol or drug) and internalized stigma has been found in other addiction treatment samples (Luoma et al., 2007, 2010).
