How to use this glossary
We designed this glossary to help patients, families, and community members understand the unique language used in addiction treatment programs.
You can use:
- A-Z Index: Scroll or jump to terms alphabetically.
- Quick Filters: Search by category (e.g., medications, symptoms, treatment approaches).
- Cross-Links: Many terms connect to relevant BrightView services, medications, or resources.
Person-first language: Say this instead of that
Language matters when talking about addiction. Using person-first, stigma-reducing terms helps people feel respected and supported in their recovery. Here's a table showing how to use person-first language when discussing addiction with your loved ones.
Say this (person-first)
Instead of this (stigmatizing)
Person with a substance use disorder (SUD)
Addict / Alcoholic / Junkie
Person in recovery
Former addict
Person experiencing withdrawal
Addict going through withdrawals
Person who returned to use
Relapsed addict
Medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD)
Replacement drug
Positive/negative test result
Clean/dirty test
Person misusing substances
Substance abuser
Person living with dual diagnosis (mental health + SUD)
Mentally ill addict
Don’t wait to get help with addiction. Find your nearest BrightView location and schedule today to start your journey toward lasting recovery.
Glossary A-Z
A
Abstinence
The act of refraining from using any mind or body-altering substance, whether legal or illegal.
Adverse reaction
A harmful or unexpected response to a drug or medication.
Age at onset
The age at which a person first develops or experiences a condition or symptom of a disease, like addiction.
Agonist/partial agonist
A drug that binds to and activates a receptor in the brain. A partial agonist has a lower effectiveness than a full agonist. For example, Buprenorphine is a partial agonist, while morphine is a full agonist.
Amphetamine
A stimulant that can be used to treat symptoms of ADHD. It can also be highly addictive and easily misused.
Analgesics
A class of drugs designed to relieve pain without causing loss of consciousness.
Antagonist
A drug that blocks the action of another substance. For example, Narcan is an opioid antagonist that reverses overdoses.
AOD
An abbreviation that stands for “alcohol or drugs.”
Assessment
A professional evaluation of a person's medical history, substance use disorder background, and current health status. We call this “Day 1” or “intake” at BrightView. It's when we gather the information we need to make a personalized recommendation for substance use disorder treatment.
B
Buprenorphine (byoo-pren-OR-feen)
A partial agonist that your addiction treatment program may use to treat opioid dependence. Common brand-name medications that include buprenorphine are Suboxone, Sublocade, Brixadi, and Subutex.
C
Case management
Case managers help patients with substance use disorders access medical, social, and other resources. Every BrightView patient is assigned a case manager when starting recovery. They can help you find housing, employment, and other services you need as you work through alcohol or drug use treatment.
Ceiling effect
When raising a drug dosage fails to enhance its effectiveness. This is a common sign that it's time to pursue substance use disorder treatment.
Clinical opiate withdrawal scale (COWS)
An 11-point scale that team members use to measure opioid withdrawal symptoms. It's a tool that your care team may use to see how cravings and substance use withdrawal symptoms change over time.
Craving
A strong desire to use a substance or an addictive agent. BrightView educates patients on how to identify cravings and triggers, and how to respond to these feelings successfully.
D
Detox/detoxification
The removal of harmful substances from the body usually occuring under medical supervision. You'll need to detox from drugs and alcohol before transitioning into a long-term treatment plan.
Diagnostic evaluation
A professional assessment that uses a set of standards to assess whether a person meets the criteria for substance use disorder. BrightView follows the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5) criteria. DSM-5 is the standard for evaluating people seeking treatment for substance use. Your DSM-5 results help us understand if you need addiction treatment and, if so, what type may be right for you.
Drug of choice (DOC)
The primary substance a person is seeking treatment for in their addiction. It could be alcohol, prescription medications, stimulants, or another substance.
Dopamine
A "feel-good" brain chemical that affects mood, motivation, learning, and movement. This is one of the main chemicals impacted by drug and alcohol use disorders.
Dual diagnosis
A condition where someone has both a substance use disorder and one or more mental health conditions, also known as co-occurring disorders. For example, you may be navigating the challenges of anxiety or depression while also working through an addiction to alcohol.
BrightView offers dedicated treatment options for people who need help with substance use and mental health. We'll help you address them at the same time, so you can move forward faster.
E
Ethanol
The main ingredient in alcoholic drinks.
I
Inpatient treatment
Any form of substance use treatment that involves sleeping in a hospital or treatment center overnight. BrightView offers a variety of outpatient programs.
Intervention
When family and friends come together to address a loved one’s addiction, their goal is to encourage them to seek treatment and begin the journey to recovery.
Intranasal
This refers to administering medication through the nose.
M
Maintenance medications
These are drugs prescribed for long-term conditions, taken on a regular basis. For example, you might take buprenorphine (Suboxone, Sublocade, Brixadi) regularly as part of your opioid use disorder treatment.
Medication assisted treatment (MAT)
MAT is a substance use treatment plan that combines medications with behavioral therapy. For example, substances like buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) can help you manage withdrawal symptoms and cravings while you address the root causes of your mental health and substance use challenges in therapy.
Methadone
A synthetic opioid that's often used to treat opioid use disorder.
Methamphetamine
A highly addictive stimulant, available as a powder, pill, or crystal. It can be smoked, snorted, swallowed, or injected.
N
Naloxone (Narcan)
An opioid antagonist, which is used to reverse opioid overdoses in addiction medicine.
O
Opioid use disorder (OUD)
A medical condition where a person continues using opioids, such as pain medication or heroin, even when it causes problems. OUD affects the brain, making it difficult to stop using opioids without support and treatment.
Outpatient treatment
Addiction treatment that doesn't require any overnight stays. BrightView offers a variety of outpatient options. Whether outpatient care is appropriate depends on your situation and risk factors.
P
Post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS)
A term that describes ongoing withdrawal symptoms, which persist after the initial detox phase. These are often psychological. For example, you may experience prolonged mood swings, anxiety, or insomnia, and receive a PAWS diagnosis.
Pink cloud
A temporary feeling of euphoria, often felt during early recovery, which sometimes leads to overconfidence and detachment from reality.
Placebo
A substance with no active medication used in clinical trials to compare against the effects of real drugs.
Precipitated withdrawal syndrome
This condition involves sudden and severe withdrawal symptoms that can occur when certain medications are introduced too early in the treatment process.
R
Recidivism
The probability of a person to “re-offend” or relapse, using drugs or alcohol when attempting to stay sober.
Relapse/return to use
Resuming alcohol or drug use after a period of sobriety. The people-first alternative to relapse is "return to use."
Route of administration
The way that a drug enters the body, such as orally, intranasally, or via injection.
S
Serotonin
A brain chemical that influences mood, sleep, and overall well-being, which is often impacted by substance use disorder and drug abuse.
Stigma
Negative attitudes and judgments about people with addiction. At BrightView, we actively work to reduce stigma to help patients feel more comfortable throughout their recovery journey.
Suboxone
Suboxone is a brand name of a buprenorphine/naloxone medication used to treat opioid use disorders.
Substance use disorder (SUD)
The medically appropriate term for the condition of being addicted to drugs or alcohol. “A person with SUD” is considered person-first, appropriate language.
T
Trigger
Internal or external cues that prompt cravings and may lead to a return to use.
Tolerance
Needing more and more of a drug to feel the same effect because the body has adapted to it.
W
Withdrawal/withdrawal symptoms
Symptoms that occur when a person dependent on a substance suddenly stops using it. These can vary by substance and individual, but often include flu-like aches, chills, nausea, and restless legs.
Addiction vocabulary FAQs
Language matters when discussing substance use disorder because traditional terms often describe people in a negative or judgmental light. For example, someone addicted to depressants or meth isn't “an addict.” They're a person who's learning how to overcome a temporary challenge in their life.
Using person-first language helps us frame addiction in a healthier way. People who struggle with SUD aren't “addicts” or “junkies”. They're humans with challenges, just like anyone else. This is why BrightView is careful about the language we use when talking about substance use disorders.
We update our terms as often as necessary to maintain our person-first approach. We'll also make updates as new prescription medications become available and other changes happen in the substance use disorder space.
Set up a callback and let us know how we can improve.
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