Shaking off the Invisibility Cloak in Alcohol Use Disorder: A Foucauldian Discourse Analysis of Stigma and Negotiating Identity in Abstinence

Abstract

Although many studies on mental health stigma have been conducted, stigma and Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) remains an under-researched area. This study sought to explore how participants manage a stigmatized identity, and which processes are involved in this. A small sample of male (n = 5) and female (n = 1) participants who had previously attended alcohol recovery services and had abstained for a minimum of 12 months were interviewed. The data was analyzed using Foucauldian Discourse Analysis (FDA) to explore how they positioned themselves within discourses of addiction and recovery. By using Identity Processes Theory (IPT) as a framework, it was possible to examine identity threats experienced by participants and how they mitigated identity threats. Analysis of the data revealed three themes: ambivalence, coping as “old me” and coping as “new me.” There was no one-size-fits-all approach to managing identity for participants, however using FDA and IPT, identity threats that emerged from the assumptions of alcoholism were examined in addition to how stigmatization was experienced and mitigated by participants. These findings illustrate the complexity of processes involved in managing a stigmatized identity for those with AUD, and the need for further research.