“Substance Use” vs. “Abuse:” The Impact of Language

How we speak matters. Languages and phrases can significantly impact how a person feels and thinks about themselves. Furthermore, they can impact society, contributing to developing stigma, prejudice, and discrimination rather than fighting them. This is very obvious when it comes to mental health and recovery, making the debate related to “substance use” vs. “abuse” an important one to address. We at Bright Futures Treatment Center understand the power of words, using them to heal instead of inflict pain. And we would like to show you how to do the same.

What Is Stigmatizing Language?

To recognize stigmatizing language, you first need to know what stigma is. Stigma is discrimination against an identifiable group of people, a place, or a nation. When it comes to people with substance use disorders (SUD), stigma may include inaccurate or unfounded thoughts and beliefs like they are dangerous, incapable of managing treatment, or at fault for their condition. These thoughts can develop from antiquated or inaccurate beliefs, depicting addiction as a moral failing instead of seeing it as a chronic but treatable disease from which one can recover and continue to live a fulfilling and healthy life.

So, what’s then stigmatizing language?

Stigmatizing language uses words or phrases with negative labels that assign judgment. They reflect subconscious biases and can have many negative effects:

• They can perpetuate isolation and misunderstanding between people with substance use disorders and the community in general.
• Stigmatizing language can imply that a person caused their illness, which can reduce empathy.
• Stigmatizing words and phrases can reduce a person to their disorder, ignoring everything else about them, further contributing to their impoverished mental health.
• Finally, they can be a barrier to seeking addiction treatment in Boynton Beach.

A study showed that no person is immune to stigmatizing language use. Even individuals who should be providing assistance, such as clinicians, often employ stigmatizing words and phrases in their notes. The same study conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse also showed that notes authored by mental health professionals had a lower prevalence of stigmatizing language. We at Bright Futures Treatment Center are dedicated to using inclusive and non-judgmental language.

How Does Stigmatizing Language Affect People with Substance Use Disorders?

Stigmatizing language is judgmental and often sounds as if you’re accusing a person of being weak, lazy, or in some way damaged for struggling with substance use. Labels can negatively impact mental health and several aspects of a recovering life.

Social Impact

Various accusing labels, frequently used in stigmatizing language, mark a person as unwanted and sometimes dangerous for the community. Continuous use of such language further contributes to the lack of acceptance and support one needs to overcome their substance use struggles. By promoting and continuously using stigmatizing language, the gap between people grows.

Widening the Treatment Gap

Stigmatizing language contributes to stigma that further impacts one’s readiness to seek help from a professional drug or alcohol rehab center in Florida. Stigma follows both addiction and recovery, and people often feel fear of being judged or rejected by society, so they try hiding their struggles instead of seeking support.

Quality of Care

Once people struggling with substance use seek treatment, they might encounter less genuine care. This is due to the dehumanizing nature of stigmatizing language, which can influence the way clinicians treat individuals with substance use disorders. By labeling people as a problem rather than as individuals having a problem, physicians in charge of them might show less empathy and understanding.

How Can We Address Stigmatizing Language and Labels?

When talking to people with substance use disorder or their loved ones, as well as when speaking to the general public, we advise you to make certain changes in phrases you use or approaches you have to show more empathy, understanding, and acceptance. We encourage you to stop using labels or words that can come off as judgmental to create a psychologically safe space for people struggling with substance or alcohol use disorders. This way, you will encourage them to seek appropriate alcohol or drug rehab in Florida and get the necessary support.

Here are several things you can do:

• Promote person-first language. Speak of people struggling with addiction as people with a certain problem rather than equating them to and labeling them as a condition. This way, you can still talk about a problem without implying that the person itself is a problem. This maintains the integrity of individuals.
• Educate yourself and others. There is no shame in not knowing but rather in not looking to educate yourself. There are many available online resources that can help you adopt inclusive language, or you can turn to a trusted facility, like Bright Futures Treatment Center, for additional assistance.
• Lead by example and challenge stigma when you hear it. The change starts with you. Be the first person in your environment to use inclusive and non-stigmatizing language, and if you notice someone doing the opposite, challenge them to change their perspective.
• Focus on recovery efforts. When unsure how to communicate, show that you care about the person’s recovery effort. Celebrate their small wins with them and empower them to continue fighting.
• Advocate for change. Promote acceptance within your community and teach others how to show empathy and openness towards those who struggle with substance use.

Non-Stigmatizing Language to Use Instead

It might be challenging to use different vocabulary if you habitually use stigmatizing language. However, we encourage you to try using these terms to reduce stigma and negative bias when talking about addiction and recovery:

• Instead of calling someone an addict, refer to them as a person with substance use disorder.
• Avoid saying user for someone with opioid use disorder and instead refer to them as a person with opioid addiction.
• Instead of labeling someone as a substance or drug abuser, consider referring to them as a patient.
• Stop using the word “junkie” and, instead, use “person in active use” or simply use the person’s name.
• Similarly, don’t call someone an alcoholic but a person with alcohol use disorder.
• Don’t call someone drunk; instead, call them a person who misses alcohol or a person who engages in unhealthy alcohol use.
• Replace “former addict” with a “person in recovery” or long-term recovery.
• Use “person who previously used drugs” instead of a “reformed addict.”.

What these changes do is rely on person-first language. This way, we show that a person has a problem rather than a person is a problem. Suggested terms avoid negative association and individual blame.

“Substance Use” vs. “Abuse” and Other Terms to Avoid or Use

There are a few other words that we would like for you to be mindful of, as they are very harmful but can be easily replaced:

• Use the phrases substance use disorder or drug addiction instead of saying a habit. The word habit can undermine the seriousness of the disease and inaccurately imply that a person is choosing to use substances or that they can choose to stop.
• When it comes to the “substance use” vs. “abuse” dilemma, the general recommendation is to use the words use, misuse, or used other than prescribed. Instead of choosing the word abuse. The word abuse has a high association with negative judgments and punishment, which is why we advise you to avoid it.
• For someone who has negative toxicology screen results, you should use the phrase testing negative rather than calling them clean. Similarly, you should refer to someone who tested positive as “testing positive” instead of “dirty.” These clinically accurate, non-stigmatizing terminologies can be used for other medical conditions as well, implying the person is a patient who requires treatment.

A Few Final Words on “Substance Use” vs. “Abuse”

Stigmatizing language might have had an evolutionary purpose, but nowadays, it only causes damage. You don’t have to be part of the problem. Instead, you can be part of the solution. Using inclusive and empathetic language might not come naturally to you, but we encourage you to educate yourself and use your words to heal rather than cause damage and harm.

Understanding the difference between “substance use” vs. “abuse” is an important step in breaking the stigma. Learning to use language that fosters support, and compassion can help create a safer and more welcoming environment for individuals struggling with substance use disorder.