Attributional styles and substance use

As described in the Stigma & Self-Esteem section, many people who use drugs can experience self-stigma, creating the belief that they are always to blame for things going wrong.  

• This often leads to one-sided attributional styles that change depending on if the situation was good or bad: 

• • Failures = attributed to oneself (“I relapsed again because I have no self control”) 
  • Success = attributed to the circumstance, luck, or that they are unworthy of praise (“I have only been able to cut down my use because I don’t hang out with William anymore”) 

• Consequences of one-sided, negative attributional styles: 

• • Decreased self-worth 
  • Sadness, dejection 
  • Withdrawal from social activities due to fear of making a mistake 

• To avoid this, we need to consider multiple factors when thinking about the causes of a certain event. The more balanced explanation should include elements of yourself as well as the situation and others.