Words Matter
Compassionate conversations and choice of words help those with substance or alcohol use disorders feel more comfortable seeking treatment and starting their recovery journey.
What words can we use to talk about alcohol and opioid misuse that convey compassion?
Talking about addiction as a medical condition helps to humanize it and remove negative connotations from the general public opinion. Medical research has proven that addiction is a complex brain illness that can affect any person, regardless of their character, strength, or lifestyle. We now know that any factors—genetic, neurobiological, and social—affect addiction.
Terms to Use and Avoid When Talking About Addiction
The National Institute on Drug Abuse recommends these terms:
- Instead of saying “addict” or “junkie,” say “person with substance use disorder.”
- Instead of saying “alcoholic” or “drunk,” say “person with alcohol use disorder.”
- Instead of saying “drug abuse,” say “drug misuse” or “harmful use.”
- Instead of saying “alcohol abuse,” say “unhealthy alcohol use” or “harmful alcohol use.”
We can begin changing our words by replacing the words “addict” or “junkie” with “person with a substance use disorder.”
Replacing the word “abuse” with “misuse” or “harmful use” removes a connotation of blame.
Today we recognize addiction as a chronic disease that changes both brain structure and function. Just as cardiovascular disease damages the heart and diabetes impairs the pancreas, addiction hijacks the brain. This happens as the brain goes through a series of changes, beginning with recognition of pleasure and ending with a drive toward compulsive behavior.
As individuals, there are small but meaningful actions that can make a big difference when talking about alcohol and opioid misuse. We can help break the stigma surrounding substance use disorders by recognizing that addiction is a medical condition and choosing to use words that convey compassion.
