Drunk. Addict. Junkie. Stoner. Alcoholic. Druggie. Boozer. Wino. Tweaker. Burnout. Pot head, crack head, coke head, meth head, acid head...the list goes on. Labels and stigmas and slurs. As any pre-schooler will tell you, “words hurt”.
I love language and I am a self-described grammar nazi. My sister strongly suggested that I rethink that title. I even changed my Instagram profile for her, but “grammar police” just doesn’t have the same sting. I think that’s why I liked the original phrase. For the sting.
As recovery professionals, the language we use has incredible power. The stigma caused by labels can actually prevent people from accessing available services. The language used in addiction and mental health services can be dehumanizing and even a block to recovery. Reducing a person to nothing more than their difficulties is one of the most damaging forms of language. It denies the existence of any facet of that person other than their diagnosis.
The phrases of William Shakespeare appear constantly in our daily conversations. Many of them are used to describe those in addiction. He’s “seen better days”. She’s “in a pickle”. We’re “a sorry sight”. “A laughing stock.” “A piece of work.” My friend Bobby, when describing his bottom, says he found himself with a bottle in front of him and a gun in his hand, on the wrong end of the “to be or not to be” question. And of course it was Shakespeare who famously asked “What’s in a name?”
The names traditionally used around addiction often serve to devalue, diminish, denigrate and discriminate. As professionals we strive to replace these words. “Addict” becomes “person with substance use disorder“. “Relapse” becomes “reoccurrence”. “Self-help” becomes “recovery support”. It takes effort and work to put aside the old labels, but as we refine and unify the language of recovery we can end the negative stereotypes and the stigma of addiction.
What’s in a name?
Everything.
Nice one!