Blog
International Statement Recommending Against the Use of Terminology That Can Stigmatize People
The International Society of Addiction Journal Editors released a statement regarding stigmatizing terminology in the field of addiction medicine. The society “recommends against the use of terminology that can stigmatize people who use alcohol, drugs, other addictive substances or who have addictive behavior.”
According to the statement, stigmatizing terms like “abuse” and “dirty/clean” can affect the way patients act, and the way they are treated by clinicians, family, the public, etc. Instead, words like “substance use disorder,” which are less connotative of personal culpability, are preferable.
The Journal of Addiction Medicine has been encouraging of the use of non-stigmatizing terminology, and has endorsed the ISAJE statement.
Read the full article, authored by Journal of Addiction Medicine Senior Editor, Dr. Richard Saitz, here: http://journals.lww.com/journaladdictionmedicine/Citation/publishahead/International_Statement_Recommending_Against_the.99656.aspx
Related article:
