Appendix D - Language Matters resource

When working with people who use alcohol and other drugs

try this	instead of this
substance use, non-prescribed use	abuse, misuse, problem use, non-compliant use
person who uses or injects drugs	drug user, drug abuser
person with a dependence on	addict, junkie, druggie, alcoholic
person experiencing drug dependence	suffering from addiction, has a drug habit
person who has stopped using drugs	clean, sober, drug-free
person with lived experience of drug dependence	ex-addict, former addict, used to be a drug addict
person disagrees	lacks insight, in denial, resistant, unmotivated
treatment has not been effective, person chooses not to	not engaged, non-compliant
person's needs are not being met	drug seeking, manipulative, splitting
currently using drugs	using again, fallen off the wagon, had a setback
no longer using drugs	stayed clean, maintained recovery
positive or negative urine drug screen	dirty or clean urine
used or unused syringe	dirty or clean needle, dirties
pharmacotherapy is treatment	replacing one drug for another

Adapted from Language Matters, National Council for Behavioural Health, United States (2015) and Matua Raki, New Zealand (2016)

Renfrewshire Council