CARES Essex County

Stigma free

The stigmatizing term “homeless” has been replaced with the person first term “unhoused.”

The stigmatizing terms “alcoholic or drunk” have been replaced with the person first terms “person with an alcohol disorder or person who misuses alcohol.”

The stigmatizing terms “addict, junkie, user, or drug abuser” have been replaced with the person first terms “person with an opioid use disorder, person with a substance use disorder, or people who use drugs.”

The stigmatizing terms “former addict or reformed addict” have been replaced with the person first terms “person in recovery, person in long-term recovery, or person who previously used to use drugs.”

The stigmatizing terms “dirty or failing a drug test” have been replaced with the person first terms “testing positive with a drug screen.”

The stigmatizing term “abuse” has been replaced with the person first terms “use” for someone who uses illicit drugs, and “misuse” for prescription drug use other than prescribed.

The stigmatizing phrase “committed suicide” has been replaced with the person first phrase “died by suicide.”

The stigmatizing term “schizophrenic” has been replaced with the person first term “someone with schizophrenia.”

The stigmatizing terms “opioid substitution, replacement therapy, and medication-assisted treatment (MAT)” have been replaced with the person first terms “medication treatment for OUD, medications for OUD, opioid agonist therapy, pharmacotherapy, or medication for a substance use disorder.”

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