One in five believe addicts have themselves to blame

A poll commissioned by Merchants Quay Ireland found that while there was general support among the public for drug treatment, one in five said those in addiction had themselves to blame.

The survey, conducted among 1,239 adults, found:

59% had direct experience of addiction, whether that was themselves, a family member or close friend;
85% agreed that drug users should have access to the treatment they require;
42% disagreed with the proposition that “someone in recovery from addiction is as trustworthy as anyone else”;
53% disagreed with the statement “I have sympathy for people who inject drugs in public”;
21% of respondents agreed that people who are addicted to drugs only have themselves to blame.

The poll was commissioned by MQI to mark the launch of the exhibition, The Lived Experience of Addiction.

One in five believe addicts have themselves to blame

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