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Substance Use Disorder

Person-first language for talking about addiction

Person-first language for talking about addictionInstead of… Use… Because…Addict, user,substanceor drug abuser,or junkiePerson with a substance use disorder (SUD), person withan opioid use disorder (OUD), or person with opioid addictionPerson-first language helps emphasize thatSUD is a medical condition. It also shows that a personhas a problem or illness, not that they are the problem.It doesn’t blame the individual for their disorder.Alcoholic ordrunk (noun)Person with alcohol use disorder (AUD) or person whomisuses alcohol or engages in unhealthy/hazardousalcohol usePerson-first language helps emphasize thatSUD is a medical condition. It also shows that a personhas a problem or illness, not that they are the problem.It doesn’t blame the individual for their disorder.Former orreformed addict Person in recovery or person who previously used drugsPerson-first language helps emphasize thatSUD is a medical condition. It also shows that a personhas a problem or illness, not that they are the problem.It doesn’t blame the individual for their disorder.Dirty, failinga drug test Testing positive (on a drug screen) Using medically accurate terminology helps peoplestay hopeful that they can make a change.Habit SUD or drug addictionDescribing an SUD as a habit may make it seemless serious than it is and may imply living with anSUD is a choice.Abuse Use (for illicit drugs) or misuse (for prescriptionmedications used other than as prescribed)The word “abuse” brings on negative judgments andassociations with punishment.Clean Being in remission or recovery, abstinent from drugs, notdrinking or taking drugs, or testing negative (on a drug screen)Saying someone is “clean” inappropriately suggeststhat if they’re not in recovery, they are “dirty.”Addicted babyBaby born to a parent who used drugs while pregnant,baby with signs of withdrawal from prenatal drug exposure,newborn exposed to substances, or baby with neonatalabstinence syndromeBabies cannot be born with addiction becauseaddiction is a behavioral disorder. Emphasize themedical condition without judgment.

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September 26, 2024

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