LAUSR

T he American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM)’s Journal of Addiction Medicine and other leading journals have encouraged the use of precise nonstigmatizing terminology. Furthermore, the International Society of Addiction Journal Editors (ISAJE) published a recommendation statement against the use of stigmatizing terms. The ASAM has published policy statements on the issue of terminology. The US Office of National Drug Control Policy posted a draft statement on changing the language in our field. Stigmatizing terms can negatively impact quality of care. For example, research demonstrates that when patients are described as having substance ‘‘abuse’’ instead of a ‘‘disorder,’’ clinicians are more likely to recommend punitive approaches. Examples of terms that can be stigmatizing include the use of the terms ‘‘alcoholic,’’ ‘‘abuser,’’ ‘‘drunk,’’ ‘‘user,’’ ‘‘addict,’’ or ‘‘junkie.’’ While the use of terms such as ‘‘alcoholic’’ and ‘‘addict’’ are acceptable in 12-step or other nonmedical settings, these terms could easily be replaced with more medically defined and less stigmatizing terms that incorporate person-first language (eg, patient with ‘‘alcohol use disorder’’ and not ‘‘alcoholic,’’ etc). Several terms are preferred when discussing the spectrum of unhealthy alcohol and other drug use. Much of this section appeared in an ASAM policy statement.