Terms To Use and Avoid When Talking About Alcohol Addiction

What Words Matter When Talking About Addiction?

Phrases such as “alcoholic” and “alcohol abuse” are commonly used when talking about alcohol addiction. They can be stigmatizing, however. We can replace them with person-first phrases such as “person with alcohol use disorder” and “alcohol misuse” to reduce stigma and empower those who may benefit from support to seek a better relationship with alcohol. Words are powerful tools that can either do harm or offer paths to healing.

In the award-winning TV series Breaking Bad, there’s a striking scene where Jesse Pinkman, a drug dealer struggling with addiction, is chastised by Walter White, his former chemistry teacher who has joined him to produce and sell metham-phetamine. Walter, frustrated and blindsided by trying to secure his family’s financial future after being diagnosed with stage 3 lung cancer, hurls the word “junkie” at Jesse — a term that visibly cuts deep. Jesse’s face falls, a mix of pain and shame, vividly showing the profound impact of a single word.

This moment illustrates how our language can deeply wound those battling addiction (and in general), highlighting the importance of choosing our words with care. When discussing alcohol addiction, our words have the power to harm or offer paths to healing, making it crucial to communicate with compassion. Let’s learn more about alcohol addiction (more aptly referred to as alcohol use disorder or AUD) to understand what terms to use and avoid to reduce stigma.

Understanding Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)

Alcohol use disorder (AUD), commonly mistaken for a bad habit or a lack of control, is actually a condition recognized in the DSM-V (the standard manual of mental illnesses used by mental health professionals). It’s characterized by the impaired ability to stop or control alcohol use despite consequences to our physical, mental, or social health. 

This is because over time, we can become physically and neurologically dependent on alcohol. Alcohol hijacks our brain’s reward system, associating drinking with pleasure and making it hard to stop drinking. AUD makes quitting or cutting back on alcohol more difficult than we might think. And it’s also why treatment and support can be game-changing when recovering from AUD. Let’s better understand how stigma can impact this.

Words Matter: Shifting to Destigmatizing Language

Stigma in AUD can include inaccurate thoughts such as thinking a person with AUD is dangerous, incapable of managing treatment, or irresponsible. It often stems from antiquated and inaccurate beliefs that AUD is a moral failing rather than a disorder we can recover from.

We can reduce stigma by shifting from stigmatizing language to a more person-first approach. A person-first approach uses a neutral tone and distinguishes us from our diagnosis. For example, when someone is diagnosed with cancer, we don’t say they’re cancerous, but instead, they’re someone battling cancer. Similarly, those of us with AUD are not just “alcoholics” but people who are diagnosed with AUD. Person-first language helps maintain our integrity as individuals by avoiding language that equates us to our condition or has negative connotations.

Let’s go back to our episode of Breaking Bad. Right after Walt calls Jesse a “junkie,” Jesse reacts and throws Walt against the wall — causing even greater discord between them. Stigmatizing language can cause those struggling with AUD to become defensive or distant, leading to interpersonal consequences (which we’ll take a deep dive into a bit later). Let’s first understand how to put stigma-free language into practice.

Terms To Use

Words matter, so let’s use that in our favor. Although words like “alcoholism” and other terms we’ll be discussing are used in scientific research and informational resources, there’s a difference when we’re speaking to someone directly about it. We can use these terms to have positive conversations that can be the starting point for change:

• Person-centered language. A “person with AUD” or a “person in recovery” are more positive terms to use as they separate us from our condition rather than defining us by it.
• Medically accurate terms. Use “alcohol use disorder” rather than calling someone an “alcoholic” or an “addict,” as they have a more neutral connotation and are medically accurate.
• Empowering language. We know that words have the power to hurt, but they also have the influence to empower. Recognize the strength it takes to battle AUD by using terms like “in recovery” or “working towards a better relationship with alcohol.”
• Nonjudgmental tone. Words like “relapse” and “dependence” aren’t harmful, but when used with a judgmental or negative tone, they can be. However, we can reframe “relapse” as a challenge we can overcome rather than a failure and shift “dependence” from a problem to something treatable. For example, instead of asking someone to try harder when they’ve relapsed, we can ask them how we can best support them in overcoming this recurrence. And rather than saying someone is dependent on alcohol and there’s something wrong with them, we can say they’re on their way to improving their relationship with alcohol.

Now that we’ve gone over some positive terms to use, let’s get into terms that we should aim to avoid and why they’re a poor choice.

Terms To Avoid

“A broken bone can heal, but the wound a word opens can fester forever” — Jessamyn West 

Choosing our words mindfully can help us use our words to heal rather than harm. Here are some terms to avoid to promote a stigma-free conversation about AUD:

• Stigmatizing labels. Avoid terms like “addict/ex-addict,” “drunk,” “alcoholic,” or “abuser.” These stigmatizing labels paint the picture that we “are” the problem or there’s something wrong with us, rather than our “having” a problem and trying to do better.
• Words with negative connotations. Terms such as “clean/dirty,” “character defect,” and “failure/weakness” imply that we are “less-than” because of AUD, and can decrease our sense of hope or self-efficacy for change.
• Inaccurate or misleading terms. Words like “alcohol abuse” or “habit/problem” are often used but are misleading. They imply that we are simply choosing to drink too much and undermine the physical or psychological dependence we have on alcohol when dealing with AUD.
• Condescending language. Terms like “junkie/drunkie” and “boozer” are offensive, reducing us to our condition rather than recognizing us a person struggling with AUD.

When we transition from stigmatizing verbiage to a more positive, person-first approach, it can take some time and practice. Check out this handy guide for terms to avoid and positive replacements for them.

Now, if you’re reading this chart, you may be wondering, “I’ve seen terms like ‘alcohol abuse’ and ‘alcoholic’ online a lot! Are those people all being offensive?” Not necessarily. It’s important to remember that while these terms are thrown around, what matters is how we use them and who we direct them to. For example, if we’re talking about the neuroscience behind addiction, or “different types of alcoholics,” these terms aren’t directed at anyone in particular but are used for more research-based purposes and don’t carry the same personal stigma. What we need to avoid is labeling someone by one of these terms, such as “You’re an alcoholic,” as we’re not using them in a constructive way.

The Power of Words in Dismantling Addiction Stigma

Stigma is one of the biggest barriers to accessing treatment. Due to fear of judgment, those of us with AUD may not be willing to seek support or treatment. Without intervention, AUD causes prolonged excessive drinking, which is associated with myriad health issues and can even lead to death — making treatment crucial in preventing alcohol-related harm down the road. 

False information and stereotyping can also lead to negative feelings such as pity, fear, anger, or a desire to distance from someone who has AUD — indirectly causing greater harm to those with AUD. For those dealing with AUD, having friends and family by their side can be an influential factor in starting or maintaining recovery. By intentionally choosing the words we use to speak about AUD, we can reduce the stigma and harm from it.

Beyond Intentional Addiction Recovery Words: Effective Communication

Effective communication goes beyond choosing our words mindfully. To have stigma-free conversations about AUD, we can practice these strategies: 

• Set the stage. What we say matters, but so does when we say it. If we’re trying to have a conversation to show our concern or encourage a loved one to seek treatment, it’s important to show our compassion and convey the seriousness of the matter. Set out time to speak and make sure distractions are limited.
• Be aware of your tone. The way we say something can significantly impact what we’re trying to communicate. Avoid using an accusatory or confrontational tone to make sure your message gets across. Instead of saying “You’re drinking too much,” we can point out the consequences of alcohol we’ve noticed to show our concern with their drinking habits and how it’s affecting their health. The important thing to remember is we want them to know we care about them, and aren’t judging them.
• Listen with empathy. We may want to get our point across, but listening is also a part of effective communication. Practice active listening by confirming your understanding and hearing what they have to say with an open mind. 
• Continue learning. The terms we recommend avoiding were once widely accepted. As we learn more about the condition and more positive ways to communicate, we now know that some terms are stigmatizing. As time progresses, we continue to learn more, and who knows? One day we may learn even better alternatives for these terms. Be open to lifelong learning and adapting to new information and strategies. 

The words we choose to communicate our point are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to communicating effectively. To tackle the giant that is the stigma attached to AUD, we can adopt these strategies that start with mindful word choice. 

The Final Word

When talking about AUD, our words have the power to hurt or open the door to healing. Even words that aren’t condescending, like “junkie,” such as “alcoholic” or “addiction,” can add to the stigma of AUD. But that’s not all. Stigma can impact our willingness to seek treatment and isolate us from our support system. Left untreated, AUD continues to be detrimental to our health, which can even be lethal. Something as simple as the words we choose has the power to change, so let’s choose them wisely!