Wednesday, February 28, 2018

The Language We Use in Addiction Treatment



The language we use related to alcohol and drug use disorders is often stigmatizing and misguided. Alltyr’s mission is to transform addiction treatment in America. Changing language is a necessary step in that process.

Here’s is Alltyr’s guide to addiction language for the 21st Century.

Instead of saying:
Say:
alcoholic
person with an alcohol use disorder (AUD)
addict
person with a substance use disorder (SUD)
alcohol /drug abuse
risky use, heavy drinking, risky drinking
sober
abstaining, in remission
betrayer, liar, cheat, thief, selfish
addicted person, sick, ill
enabler
loved one  
enabling
unhelpful or unskillful behavior
tough love
self-care, setting reasonable limits and expectations
unmotivated, denial
ambivalent about change, non-adherent, not yet able to overcome barriers to change, demoralized
dry drunk
irritable, moody, troubled, erratic, struggling
slip, lapse, relapse
use episode, recurrence, set-back
recovery (abstinence + spiritual growth)
remission (absence of illness once present)
relapse
recurrence, set-back
relapse prevention
recovery skills training
treatment program
rehab
Treatment (meaning rehab)
treatment (includes all levels of care)
MAT (medication assisted treatment)
treatment, pharmacotherapy, anti-relapse meds
compliance
adherence
non-compliant
non-adherent
harm reduction
treatment, chronic care management, partial response

Want to learn more about The Alltyr Model of Care™? Visit our website: www.alltyr.com