Words Matter: Preferred Language for Talking About Addiction | National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Addiction is a chronic but treatable medical condition. Often unintentionally, many people still talk about addiction in ways that are stigmatizing—meaning they use words that can portray someone with a substance use disorder (SUD) in a shameful or negative way and may prevent them from seeking treatment.⁹ With simple changes in language harmful stigma and negativity around SUD can be reduced or avoided. Read on to learn more about what stigma is, how it affects people with SUD, and how you can help make a change.

Stigma and Addiction

What is stigma?

Stigma is a discrimination against an identifiable group of people, a place, or a nation. Stigma about people with substance use disorders might include inaccurate or unfounded thoughts like: they are dangerous, incapable of managing treatment, or at fault for their condition.

Where does stigma come from?

Stigma around addiction may come from old and inaccurate ideas, or fear of things that are different or misunderstood. Today, we know that addiction is a chronic, treatable medical condition. We also know that people can recover and continue to lead healthy lives.

How does it affect people with SUD?

Feeling stigmatized can make people with SUD less willing to seek treatment.^1,2
Negative stereotypes about people with SUD can make others feel pity, fear, and even anger.²

How can we make a change?

When talking to or about people with SUD, make sure to use words that aren’t stigmatizing. See the table below for some helpful tips to get started.
Use person-first language, which focuses on the person—not their illness. It focuses on removing words that define a person by their condition or have negative meanings.⁴ For example, “person with a substance use disorder” has a neutral tone and separates the person from his or her disorder.⁵
Let people choose how they are described.³ If you’re not sure what words to use, just ask! Check in with friends or loved ones about how they refer to themselves and how they would like others to refer to them.

Read more from NIDA Director Dr. Nora Volkow:

Learn about preferred language for health professionals with NIDAMED:

Health Professions Education:
- Words Matter - Terms to Use and Avoid When Talking About Addiction
- Your Words Matter – Language Showing Compassion and Care for Women, Infants, Families, and Communities Impacted by Substance Use Disorder

Terms to use, terms to avoid, and why

The chart below can help you choose words to reduce stigma and use person-first language when talking about addiction.

**Talking About Yourself or Others with Substance Use Disorder**
Use...	Instead of...	Because…
Person with a substance use disorder¹⁰	Addict User Substance or drug abuser Junkie	Using person-first language shows that SUD is an illness. Using these words shows that a person with a SUD “has” a problem/illness, rather than “is” the problem.⁶ The terms avoid elicit negative associations, punitive attitudes, and individual blame.⁶
Person with alcohol use disorder Person who misuses alcohol/engages in unhealthy/hazardous alcohol use	Alcoholic Drunk
Person in recovery or long-term recovery/person who previously used drugs	Former addict Reformed addict
Testing positive (on a drug screen)	Dirty Failing a drug test	Use medically accurate terminology the same way it would be used for other medical conditions.⁸ These terms may decrease a person’s sense of hope and self-efficacy for change.⁶

**Talking about Using Substances**
Use...	Instead of...	Because…
Substance use disorder Drug addiction	Habit	“Habit” implies that a person is choosing to use substances or can choose to stop. This implication is inaccurate.⁵ Describing SUD as a habit makes the illness seem less serious than it is.
Use (for illicit drugs) Misuse (for prescription medications used other than prescribed)	Abuse	The term “abuse” was found to have a high association with negative judgments and punishment.⁷ Use outside of the parameters of how medications were prescribed is misuse.

**Talking about Recovery and Treatment**
Use...	Instead of...	Because…
Medication treatment for OUD Medications for OUD Opioid agonist therapy Pharmacotherapy Medication for a substance use disorder	Opioid substitution Replacement therapy Medication-assisted treatment (MAT)	It is a misconception that medications merely “substitute” one drug or “one addiction” for another.⁵ The term MAT implies that medication should have a supplemental or temporary role in treatment. Using “MOUD” aligns with the way other psychiatric medications are understood (e.g., antidepressants, antipsychotics), as critical tools that are central to a patient’s treatment plan.
Being in remission or recovery Abstinent from drugs Not drinking or taking drugs Testing negative (on a drug screen)	Clean	Use of medical terminology (the same way you would for other illnesses) can help reduce stigma.⁸

**Talking about Babies Born to Parents Who Used Drugs**
Use...	Instead of...	Because…
Baby born to a parent who used drugs while pregnant Baby with signs of withdrawal from prenatal drug exposure Newborn exposed to substances Baby with neonatal abstinence syndrome	Addicted baby	Babies cannot be born with addiction because addiction is a behavioral disorder. Using person-first language can reduce stigma. Use of medical terminology (the same way you would for other illnesses) can help reduce stigma.⁸

References

June 23, 2021