Stigmatizing language consists of words, labels, or phrases that assign shame, blame, or negative stereotypes to individuals based on their substance use, mental health condition, recovery status, or life experiences. Stigmatizing language can create barriers to seeking help, reduce feelings of hope and self-worth, and contribute to discrimination and social exclusion.
Addiction is a chronic, common, and treatable health condition that can affect a person’s relationship with substances and/or behaviors. Individuals with addiction may begin using substances or engaging in behaviors voluntarily, but over time these patterns can become difficult to control and continue despite negative consequences to health, relationships, or daily functioning.
Detox is a medically supported process that helps individuals safely manage withdrawal symptoms and achieve physical stabilization after reducing or stopping substance use. While detox addresses the immediate physical effects of substance use, it is often one step within a broader recovery journey that may include ongoing support, treatment, and recovery services.
Treatment is a range of professional services and supports designed to help individuals improve their health, wellness, and quality of life while addressing substance use and mental health challenges. Treatment may include counseling, medication, education, peer support, and other evidence-based approaches that support an individual’s recovery goals and personal pathway to wellness.
| Instead Of: | Try Using: | Because: |
|---|---|---|
| Addict, Junkie, Druggie | Person with Substance Use Disorder | Over time the word “addict” has become a stereotype that carries negative connotations, by using person-first language and referring to the name of the diagnosis, we give the person their identity. |
| Drug Abuser | Drug User/Person Who Uses Drugs or abbreviation (PWUD) | Person-first language ensures the person is not identified as their diagnosis, rather a whole person who has a diagnosis. The word “abuse” has carried negative stigma, implying that the person deserves to be criminalized rather than given treatment. |
| Clean/Dirty | In-Recovery/In Active Use | Clean & dirty implies that using or not using a substance would make them “dirty” or “clean”. In reality drug use does not determine if someone is clean/dirty, they are people regardless. |
| Alcoholic | Person with Alcohol Use Disorder | Person-first language |
| Dirty/Clean Drug Test Results | Negative or Positive | It’s important that we refer to drug screen testing exactly as it is. A drug screen cannot be clean or dirty, it’s either negative or positive. We never want to refer to someone as dirty, which can affect their mental health severely. |
| Habit | Substance Use Disorder | Using the term “habit” may undermine the severity of the diagnosis. |
| Addicted Baby | Baby with neonatal opioid withdrawal/neonatal abstinence syndrome or baby born to mother who uses drugs | Newborn babies cannot have substance use disorder, they are simply born with symptoms of withdrawal. Using person-first language minimizes harm. |
| Words Matter: Preferred Language for Talking About Addiction | National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) | ||
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