People would be shocked if a teenager with cancer were to be called a cancer. So why would a teenager who struggles with addiction be called an addict? Their illness should not define them; they are so much more than their disease.
To eliminate the stigma we need to eliminate the language that stigmatizes people. Many people use the word “addict” or “alcoholic”. These words are used all the time without any thought given to their effect.
What language should you use?
| Instead of: | Use: |
|---|---|
| “alcoholic” “addict” “substance abuser” |
“person with substance use disorder” “person with addiction” |
| “alcoholic or addict in recovery” “recovering alcoholic or addict” |
“person in recovery” “person in recovery from addiction” |
| “substance abuse” | “substance misuse” “problematic substance use” |
| “clean and sober” | “in recovery” |
| “dirty urine test” | “positive urine test” |
If you roll your eyes at political correctness…
This is not just a case of semantics or political correctness. It affects the qualify of care that people receive.
- For a better understanding of how language can be harmful to people with addiction, read this short article: Language of addiction itself can hurt, advocates say
- For a longer, scientific explanation, read this paper: Language, Substance Use Disorders, and Policy: The Need to Reach Consensus on an “Addiction-ary”
How is stigma harmful?
Stigma has only negative effects:
- people may avoid treatment because they experience judgement (blaming and shaming) and/or poor treatment;
- people often internalize the stigma; they see themselves as bad, weak, lazy or sinful which can drive further substance use;
- people may isolate themselves and socialize only with others with similar conditions. This can make recovery that much harder as they must leave their social circle and reintegrate into a society where they may have been judged and treated badly;
- families may isolate themselves to avoid the judgement of their communities.
- it restricts the funds advanced for research and treatment, resulting in long wait lists and slow progression of new treatments.
Stigma changes all the time, and varies from culture to culture. Today, we recognize that attempted suicide is a medical condition needing treatment. It seems inconceivable that it was once criminalized.
What can families do?
- Support, don’t judge. Judgment makes your loved one feel worse about themselves, making it harder and harder to recover. Remember that problematic substance use can happen to any of us.
- Watch your language
- Get educated
- Educate others
- Read more about stigma, how it is harmful and how to reduce it
Overcoming stigma online learning modules
Beyond Stigma: Strength in Connections
Stigma impacts all aspects of treatment for people living with opioid use disorder. This animated video explores the stigma that may be experienced from or by the families, friends and peers of people who use opioids. The project was informed by lived experiences and in partnership with clinicians and academics.
Beyond Stigma: Nurturing Circles of Care
This animated video was created to explore the compounding effects of colonialism and institutional racism on the experience of stigma for Indigenous peoples with opioid use disorder. It addresses how stigma is experienced differently by everyone, and how we can work together to nurture circles of care and move beyond stigma. The project was informed by lived experiences and in partnership with clinicians and academics.
Beyond Stigma: Treating Pain in Opioid Use Disorder
This animated video was created to explore the impact of stigma on all aspects of treatment for people living with opioid use disorder. It was created in collaboration with academics, clinicians, and people with lived experience.