How do you talk about addiction? Stigma & Language

Transcript

let's start with a quick exercise close your eyes imagine a hospital room fill the room with bouquets of flowers a get-well-soon balloon cards and a patient with a constant stream of visitors what type of illness do you think the person has maybe you're thinking cancer perhaps they just underwent major surgery chances are you probably didn't think ... Read More

Key Insights

• 😒 Substance use disorder is highly stigmatized, leading to a significant treatment gap and limited access to care.
• 😒 Language that labels individuals with substance use disorder perpetuates stigma and prevents them from seeking help.
• 🖐️ Healthcare professionals can play a crucial role in breaking the stigma by adopting compassionate, patient-centered language.
• 😒 Subtle changes in language can significantly impact how healthcare providers approach and recommend treatment for substance use disorder.
• 😒 Patient-centered language allows individuals with substance use disorder to be seen as whole individuals and fosters a therapeutic relationship.
• 😒 The media and society as a whole should also commit to using non-stigmatizing language when discussing substance use disorder.
• 😒 Language has the power to shape public perception and improve the overall understanding of substance use disorder.

Questions & Answers

Q: How should you talk about addiction without reinforcing stigma?

Use neutral, person-centered language that describes the condition without defining the individual by it. Say “person with substance use disorder” instead of “addict,” and describe someone as “abstinent” or “stable” rather than “clean.”

Q: Why is stigma a barrier to substance use disorder treatment?

Substance use disorder is highly stigmatized, along with the patient and the treatment itself. The transcript says stigma contributes to a substantial treatment gap in which only about 1 in 10 people with substance use disorder access treatment.

Q: Which stigmatizing addiction terms should be avoided?

Avoid labels such as “alcoholic,” “addict,” “user,” “abuser,” and “junkie.” The 2017 Associated Press style book update recommended alternatives such as “he was addicted,” “she used drugs,” or “people with heroin addiction.”

Q: Does addiction-related language affect healthcare treatment decisions?

Yes. A 2010 Massachusetts General Hospital study found that providers who read “substance abuser” made more moral and law-enforcement-oriented judgments, while those who read “patient with a substance use disorder” recommended mental healthcare and other therapeutic services.

Q: What alternatives can replace “substance abuse” and “substance abuser”?

Replace “substance abuser” with “person with substance use disorder.” Replace “substance abuse” with “substance use” or “substance use disorder”; the transcript also notes that the DSM no longer uses “substance abuse.”

Q: Should drug-screen results be called “clean” or “dirty”?

No. Drug-screen results should be described as “negative” or “positive,” not “clean” or “dirty,” because neutral wording avoids attaching judgment to the patient.

Q: What terms should be used for addiction treatment and medications?

Use “treatment attempt” instead of “treatment failure” and “disease” instead of “problem.” For evidence-based medications, prefer “opioid agonist treatment” or “medications for addiction treatment” over “opioid substitution therapy” or “medication-assisted treatment,” because the medications are treatment rather than merely assisting it.

Q: How can healthcare professionals start changing stigmatizing language?

Begin by checking written communication, including patient summaries and clinical notes, and replace labels with descriptions of the person and condition. Intentional editing can gradually carry over into spoken communication, helping providers model non-stigmatizing language.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Substance use disorder is highly stigmatized, resulting in a treatment gap where only a small percentage of individuals seek help.

• Language plays a crucial role in perpetuating or breaking the stigma associated with substance use disorder.

• The use of compassionate and patient-centered language can have a significant impact on how healthcare professionals perceive and treat patients with substance use disorder.