Why Language Matters: Choosing the Right Words in Addiction Recovery

Sometimes, seeing the world through the eyes of a child can be jarring–it can shed a sudden, harsh light on adults’ long-held assumptions. Many parents or caregivers can relate to the experience of driving children down a busy city street and hearing one of them ask why there was a man standing next to the road holding a sign asking for help. Without thinking, many of us might quickly reply, “Well honey, he’s probably just an addict.”

That small, off-hand phrase painfully illustrates so much that is wrong with the way many of us speak–and think–about people suffering from substance use disorder (SUD). It is easy to dismiss someone when we see them only in light of their addiction and not as the suffering human being they are. It is vitally important that we as a community learn all we can about preferred language within addiction recovery so that we can help and support those who need it, instead of stigmatizing and shaming them.

What Is Stigmatizing Language?

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, to stigmatize someone is to discriminate against them by associating them with a broad, often loosely- or poorly-defined group of people. One of the main ways we can stigmatize others is through the language we use. For example, we might refer to someone with alcohol use disorder as a “drunk” or “alcoholic,” identifying them chiefly by their struggle rather than their personhood. We might dismiss someone with substance use disorder as a “junkie.” This kind of language can have many negative effects on those suffering from substance use disorders of many kinds:

• It can make them less likely to seek treatment
• It can cause others to feel fear or pity towards the person with SUD
• It can feed into a self-destructive cycle of shame and substance use in the person with SUD

This kind of language ignores or minimizes the sufferer’s personhood, forgetting the fact that often people with SUD are in need of healing childhood trauma or may be subject to compulsive behaviors that compound their struggles with substance use. Put simply, they were children once, and whether or not they experienced trauma (though, sadly, it is often the case) they are someone’s child and deserve dignity and respect no matter their current circumstances.

What Is Preferred Language Within Addiction Recovery?

By using preferred language within addiction recovery, we can help those we love–and encourage any member of our broader community–to feel supported on their journey to recovery rather than stigmatized and shamed.

According to people with experience working in addiction recovery, a good way to start is by focusing on people-first language. This means starting with a sufferer’s personhood rather than their disorder. Here are some examples:

• Instead of “alcoholic,” try “person with alcohol use disorder”
• Instead of “addict” or “junkie,” try “person with substance use disorder”
• Instead of “former addict” or “reformed addict,” try “person in long-term recovery” or “person who formerly used drugs”
• Instead of “addicted to X,” try “has X use disorder”
• Instead of “drug offender,” try “person arrested for drug violation”

Another key to using preferred language within addiction recovery is to avoid stigmatizing terms for different aspects of SUD and addiction behavior. Here are some examples:

• Instead of “failing a drug test,” try “testing positive on a drug screen”
• Instead of “drug habit,” try “substance use disorder”
• Instead of “drug abuse,” try “substance use disorder” or “substance misuse” (for prescription drugs)
• Instead of “clean,” try “in recovery” or “abstinent from drugs”
• Instead of “drug of choice,” try “use of X substance”
• Instead of “dirty,” try “testing positive for substance use”
• Instead of “relapse prevention,” try “recovery management”

More than just an arbitrary code, using this preferred language within addiction recovery can actually help people suffering from SUD on their road to recovery.

Finding Hope in Addiction Recovery in Nashville, TN 

If you or someone you love is suffering from substance use disorder, whether it be alcohol, illegal drugs, or prescription drugs, there is hope. At Integrative Life Center, a holistic alcohol rehab center in Nashville, TN, we tailor our programs to meet the specific needs of our clients, whether that be talk therapy, group sessions, equine therapy, or yoga. Our evidence-based addiction treatment takes the whole person into consideration, from the program options offered to the language we use. We specialize in trauma-informed care, taking our clients’ pasts seriously as we work to help them build better futures for themselves. Reach out today to begin a journey to recovery that will last.

The post Why Language Matters: Choosing the Right Words in Addiction Recovery appeared first on Integrative Life Center.

source https://integrativelifecenter.com/alcohol-addiction/why-language-matters-choosing-the-right-words-in-addiction-recovery/