Language - making it positive

Language is the most used tool we have to communicate. The terminology we use can get our point across,  explain confusion, and teach us - but it can also carry weight that is not always positive. The vernacular that has been used in the field of addiction and mental health has very often contributed to stigma. And stigma continues to be one of the major barriers to deter persons with substance use disorders from seeking treatment.

The slang/negative words used in the past, such as addict, junkie, druggie and clean/dirty increase the sense of shame, stigma, and embarrassment. Words that encourage, support, enlighten, and inform can be a powerful tool in the journey of recovery. Positive words include addiction, addictive disorder, dependence, and recovery.

This is not a new concept, however, some policies are slow to be ingrained in everyday use. The Central East ATTC is committed to working with providers and the behavioral health workforce to encourage the use of positive and de-stigmatizing language in all aspects of their work. The slide below is a recent addition to every training event we coordinate and attend.

What's New

Resources you can use

-- The Surgeon General's Report on E-Cigarette Use Among Youth and Young Adults, HHS

-- Increases in Drug and Opioid-Involved Overdose Deaths - United States, 2010-2015, CDC

-- The National Tribal Behavioral Health Agenda, SAMHSA

-- Decisions in Recovery: Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder web-based tool, SAMHSA

-- Decisions in Recovery: Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder handbook, SAMHSA

-- Opioid Interactive Map of Governor-Led Initiatives to Address Opioid Epidemic, National Council

-- Improving Health Through Translational Alcohol Research, NIAAA Alcohol Alert No. 90

-- ATTC White Paper: Preparing Students to Work in Integrated Health Care Systems, ATTC

-- Supporting Recovery with Medications for Addiction Treatment (MAT) online course, ATTC

African American History Month

Celebrating the roles of African Americans in mental health:
Francis Cecil Sumner (1895-1954) - first African American to receive a PhD in psychology. He researched racism & bias in psychological studies of African Americans.
Mamie Phipps Clark (1917-1983) - first African American woman to receive her PhD in psychology. Her research on the impact of race on child development helped end segregation.