Words become grenades—strategically spoken at times in order to do the most damage. Total strangers felt allowed to criticize or judge me, saying that I was "such a waste of life," "useless," or "just a drunk or addict." After a while, I began to believe these words. Luckily for me, eventually these feelings were replaced with optimism, encouragement, and words that provided healing... When we choose to be compassionate, we become a part of the solution, giving an opportunity to others to be successful.
Marissa, Lawyer, Mother, Friend
A nation-wide survey proves that changing language improves outcomes.
| Instead of this… | Say this |
|---|---|
|
Abuse Drug problem/habit |
|
|
Addict Druggie/Drug Abuser Junkie |
Person with a SUD (person with OUD if relevant) |
|
Addicted to [ x ] |
Has a [ x ] use disorder |
|
Clean or Stayed clean |
Substance-free |
Never tell someone in recovery how to talk about themselves.