Why Is Addiction So Stigmatized in Desi Families?
In many South Asian communities, addiction is either heavily hidden (or forbidden) or completely normalized. It’s common to hear about an uncle who drinks “a little too much” or a parent who prioritizes work over family, but rarely is addiction openly discussed as a serious issue.
This silence often stems from cultural shame, fear of judgment, and a lack of mental health education. Many families associate addiction with moral failure rather than recognizing it as a mental health issue requiring support and intervention. Families may not even see substance abuse as a mental health issue, rather, something that is just “normal” and brushed off.
Common Forms of Addiction in Desi Families
Addiction can manifest in many ways including:
Gambling Addiction: Betting money on cards, casinos, or lottery tickets.
Alcohol Dependence: Using alcohol to cope with stress, but hiding or excusing it.
Workaholism: Prioritizing work over relationships, often under the guise of providing for the family.
Prescription Drug Misuse: Overusing painkillers or other medications without medical supervision.
How Addiction Affects Families
Addiction doesn’t just impact the individual—it affects the entire family system. It can lead to:
Children growing up in unstable environments, experiencing fear and unpredictability. Adverse childhood experiences (such as growing up in a household with a parent who abuses substances/has a mental health concern) will impact individuals in their adulthood.
Spouses feeling neglected or emotionally abandoned. Addiction can become incredibly lonely and isolating. Ignoring the issue or not talking about it with your family or others is not going to be helpful longterm.
Generational cycles of unhealthy coping mechanisms (e.g., children of addicted parents developing their own unhealthy behaviors in adulthood). It is also possible that substance use and abuse was modeled by their family and it was normalized at the time. We don’t know what we don’t know.
Breaking the Silence: Addressing Addiction Without Shame
Addressing addiction requires shifting the conversation from judgment to curiosity and support:
Acknowledge the Problem: Denial only prolongs suffering.
Reduce Stigma: Addiction is not a character flaw; it’s a health issue that needs treatment.
Encourage Professional Help: Therapy, rehab programs, and support groups can help individuals recover. If your loved one has an addiction, professional help can also support you and your needs as you navigate family dynamics, boundaries, and your own self-care.
Set Boundaries: Family members can establish limits to protect their well-being while supporting their loved ones. It may not be easy and it is likely to feel uncomfortable at first, know that this is part of the process. Setting boundaries and honouring them can help your loved one’s and your own well-being in the long run.
Silence and shame only allow addiction to grow in the shadows. By fostering open, compassionate conversations, we can support those struggling and break generational cycles of addiction. Healing starts with awareness - and every conversation about addiction helps dismantle the stigma surrounding it.
