"Person First" Addiction Language
Often, people who are referring to others who have a substance use disorder, are unsure of exactly how to do so in the “right way”. What do you call someone who has an addiction? There is an appropriate way and an inappropriate way to address people with a substance use disorder.
Here is a list of terms that are considered “person first addiction language”.

Say This
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- Person with a substance use disorder (SUD)
- Person with alcohol use disorder
- Person in remission from a SUD
- He/she is abstinent from alcohol/drugs
- Baby with neonatal withdrawal syndrome
- He/she is substance free
- He/she tested positive for illicit substances
- Testing negative for substance use
- Person in recovery
- Being intoxicated, being under the influence
- Return to use
- Intravenous drug use/using intravenously
- Undergoing a detoxification treatment, withdrawal management treatment
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Instead of This
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- Addict, junkie, crackhead
- Alcoholic
- Former addict
- He/she has a drug problem, drug habit
- Addicted baby, crack baby
- He/ she is clean
- He/she “tested dirty”
- Has a clean drug screen
- Former addict
- Getting high/stoned
- Relapse
- Shooting up
- Being in rehab/detox
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For more information on person first addiction language, please click here.
BrightView by the Numbers

After only 90 days in program, BrightView patients report more than a 50% decrease in alcohol consumption on average, with many patients achieving complete abstinence.

The quality of our patients’ experience, proves that we respect them and treat each patient as an individual. When surveyed, our patients consistently rate their experience a 9 out of 10.

BrightView patients report a nearly 50% increase in engagement with regular medical providers (for example, primary care providers) after just 90 days in our program.