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“PERSON FIRST” ADDICTION LANGUAGE

Often, people who are referring to others who have a substance use disorder, are unsure of exactly how to do so in the “right way”. What do you call someone who has an addiction? There is an appropriate way and an inappropriate way to address people with a substance use disorder.

Here is a list of terms that are considered “person first addiction language”.

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  1. Person with a substance use disorder (SUD)
  2. Person with alcohol use disorder
  3. Person in remission from a SUD
  4. He/she is abstinent from alcohol/drugs
  5. Baby with neonatal withdrawal syndrome
  6. He/she is substance free
  7. He/she tested positive for illicit substances
  8. Testing negative for substance use
  9. Person in recovery
  10. Being intoxicated, being under the influence
  11. Return to use
  12. Intravenous drug use/using intravenously
  13. Undergoing a detoxification treatment, withdrawal management treatment
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INSTEAD OF THIS
  1. Addict, junkie, crackhead
  2. Alcoholic
  3. Former addict
  4. He/she has a drug problem, drug habit
  5. Addicted baby, crack baby
  6. He/ she is clean
  7. He/she “tested dirty”
  8. Has a clean drug screen
  9. Former addict
  10. Getting high/stoned
  11. Relapse
  12. Shooting up
  13. Being in rehab/detox
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FOR MORE INFORMATION ON PERSON FIRST ADDICTION LANGUAGE, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

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