"Abusing Addiction": Our Language Still Isn't Good Enough
- PMID: 31551647
- PMCID: PMC6758913
- DOI: 10.1080/07347324.2018.1513777
"Abusing Addiction": Our Language Still Isn't Good Enough
Abstract
Background: Previous research has found initial evidence that word choice impacts the perception and treatment of those with behavioral health disorders. These previous studies have relied on vignette-based methodologies, however, and a more quantifiable index of the stigma words can produce is needed.
Method: The current study uses the Go/No-Go Association Task to calculate a d-prime (sensitivity) indexed score of automatic attitudes to two terms, "substance abuser" and "person with substance use disorder".
Results: Participants have significantly more negative automatic attitudes towards the term "substance abuser", as compared to "person with a substance use disorder".
Conclusion: Consistent with previous research, implicit bias does exist for terms commonly used in the behavioral health field. "Substance Abuser" and its derivatives should not be used in professional or lay settings.
Similar articles
-
The Language of Substance Use and Recovery: Novel Use of the Go/No-Go Association Task to Measure Implicit Bias.Health Commun. 2019 Oct;34(11):1296-1302. doi: 10.1080/10410236.2018.1481709. Epub 2018 Jun 4. Health Commun. 2019. PMID: 29863411 Free PMC article.
-
Substance use, recovery, and linguistics: The impact of word choice on explicit and implicit bias.Drug Alcohol Depend. 2018 Aug 1;189:131-138. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2018.05.005. Epub 2018 Jun 13. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2018. PMID: 29913324 Free PMC article.
-
Biased labels: An experimental study of language and stigma among individuals in recovery and health professionals.Subst Use Misuse. 2019;54(8):1376-1384. doi: 10.1080/10826084.2019.1581221. Epub 2019 Apr 4. Subst Use Misuse. 2019. PMID: 30945955 Free PMC article.
-
Addressing Bias and Stigma in the Language We Use With Persons With Opioid Use Disorder: A Narrative Review.J Am Psychiatr Nurses Assoc. 2022 Jan-Feb;28(1):9-22. doi: 10.1177/10783903211050121. Epub 2021 Nov 18. J Am Psychiatr Nurses Assoc. 2022. PMID: 34791954 Review.
-
A systematic review of stigma interventions for providers who treat patients with substance use disorders.J Subst Abuse Treat. 2021 Dec;131:108486. doi: 10.1016/j.jsat.2021.108486. Epub 2021 May 25. J Subst Abuse Treat. 2021. PMID: 34217033 Review.
Cited by
-
Does attitude importance moderate the effects of person-first language? A registered report.PLoS One. 2024 Mar 28;19(3):e0300879. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300879. eCollection 2024. PLoS One. 2024. PMID: 38547221 Free PMC article.
-
The Incidence and Disparities in Use of Stigmatizing Language in Clinical Notes for Patients With Substance Use Disorder.J Addict Med. 2023 Jul-Aug 01;17(4):424-430. doi: 10.1097/ADM.0000000000001145. Epub 2023 Jan 31. J Addict Med. 2023. PMID: 37579100 Free PMC article.
-
Perceptions and Knowledge Around Substance Use Disorders and the Role of Occupational Therapy: A Survey of Clinicians.Subst Abuse. 2022 Oct 28;16:11782218221130921. doi: 10.1177/11782218221130921. eCollection 2022. Subst Abuse. 2022. PMID: 36329760 Free PMC article.
-
Recommended Terminology for Substance Use Disorders in the Care of Children, Adolescents, Young Adults, and Families.Pediatrics. 2022 Jun 1;149(6):e2022057529. doi: 10.1542/peds.2022-057529. Pediatrics. 2022. PMID: 35977095 Free PMC article.
-
How to Reduce Stigma and Bias in Clinical Communication: a Narrative Review.J Gen Intern Med. 2022 Aug;37(10):2533-2540. doi: 10.1007/s11606-022-07609-y. Epub 2022 May 6. J Gen Intern Med. 2022. PMID: 35524034 Free PMC article. Review.
References
-
- American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Washington, DC.
-
- Bathje G, & Pryor J (2011). The relationships of public and self-stigma to seeking mental health services. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 33(2), 161–176.
-
- Bogardus ES (1925). Social Distance and its Origins. Sociology and Social Research, 9, 216–225.
Grants and funding
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources