| Interactions with individuals in the mental health field can have a significant effect on how someone with a substance use disorder (SUD) perceives himself or herself. With research representing the harmful influence of stigma toward individuals with SUD, while in a time where there are various social, mental, legal, and political connotations associated with illicit drug use, this research attempts to decrease the stigmatization and increase the understanding toward individuals with SUD through combining psycho education and art interventions. A combination of questionnaires, written responses to reflection questions, and art-based analysis were utilized with mental health professionals and students to assess their attitudes toward individuals with SUD. There were two groups of participants: the control group, which participated in the written responses through journal reflections, and the experimental group, which participated in the written responses and art-based analyses. Results show that, while there were not enough participants to run comparative statistics, there is a trend in the desired direction of the hypothesis, as seen in both narrative responses and art directives. An individual's level of stigmatization and empathy toward individuals with SUD can be better understood when given the opportunity to use art as a way to reflect. This study contributes to the growing field of art therapy as well as the field of substance use. |
