To be very clear the use of the word "addict" is problematic because it's a label, a stereotype and it literally destroys people's lives.

Words Matter

In order to navigate addiction related stigma we get to be very choosy about our words. Words can and do hurt, and in ways that we are not aware and cannot always anticipate.

Using medical terms, professional language and culturally competent words symbolizes and represents the condition in a way that evokes compassion rather than contempt.

Addiction-related stigma lives in society at large, as well as within professional, medical, and recovery communities. Because substance-related conditions are the number one public health concern in the United States and stigma is a major barrier to accessing treatment, reducing stigma is vital for enhancing public health.

Our language also evolves over time for example, in the mental health and addiction fields we no longer use the term “lunatic asylum” or refer to people with an alcohol use disorder as “inebriates”. There are several reasons for the evolution of language, but one important factor is simply new knowledge. As our knowledge of addiction has greatly increased over the past 30 years, it is now necessary to change our language and approaches with this new information.

In support of this, the Office of National Drug Control Policy released a statement in 2016 outlining the guiding principles of non-stigmatizing language for addiction, which include the guideline to use “person first” language (e.g. not abuser, but a person with, or suffering from, an addiction or substance use disorder).

The Addictionary, is a resource that was created to exemplify the gold standard in addiction terminology and word choice, shaped with feedback from over 500 national partnering organizations. https://www.recoveryanswers.org/addiction-ary/

It’s really important to note that our choice of language is not just about being polite, nice, or “politically correct.” This goes way beyond that. If we want addiction de-stigmatized we need a language that's unified as well as a unified effort.

In study after study, participants believed that patients described as “substance abusers” were less likely to benefit from treatment, more likely to benefit from punishment, more likely to be socially threatening, more to blame for their substance related difficulties, and better able to control their substance use without help, than the exact same individuals described as “having a substance use disorder.” This research suggests that exposure to terms like “substance abuser” - invoking the idea that the person is engaging in willful misconduct.

Here’s lists that we can study to help us with our word choices.

Negative Words/Phrases:

substance abuse(r), substance misuse, addict, alcoholic, opioid addict, crackhead, drunk, junkie, dope fiend, drug injector, pothead, stoner, medication-assisted treatment, replacement, substitution, clean, dirty, slip, drugs,

Positive Words/Phrases:

Person experiencing problematic drug use, Person experiencing chaotic drug use, person with substance use disorder, person in long-term recovery, person in recovery, person with an opioid use disorder, addiction survivor, addiction medications, pharmacotherapy, recovery-assisted medications, medication-assisted recovery, reoccurrence of use, resumption of use, recurrence of symptoms, negative toxicology screen, positive toxicology screen, positive/negative urinalysis, non-medically used psychoactive substances

I think it’s important to note that though some people in the recovery community may self-identify as an “addict” and “alcoholic,” this is an individual decision as used within their supportive communal groups—not for the legal and medical community or family members and loved ones to decide.

As treatment and medical professionals, and impacted loved ones, it is definitely time to replace stigmatizing terms with person-first and recovery-oriented language to reduce the feelings of guilt, shame, and embarrassment that prevent persons in need of services for disorders of addiction from getting life-saving treatment they deserve.

Finally, I’ll leave you with this quote from Robert Ashford, a recovery scientist at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia who has extensively studied the impact of language on addiction care: “Language matters generally because it’s the primary way we communicate … it doesn’t matter if it’s verbal or written or sign language. We take our cues for how we interact and see the world [from] the words we use.”