The language we all use matters. At WithYou, we put people first and support everyone without judgement.
Watch William, a client supported by WithYou in Wigan and Leigh, share why putting people before labels matters.
The language we use about drugs, alcohol and mental health can shape how people are seen, treated and supported. When someone reaches out for help or steps through our doors, they often carry the weight of judgement, fear and labels. The words we choose can affect whether they feel safe enough to ask for support, and safe enough to stay in the room.
When stigmatising language is used, it can:
Reduce people’s worth
Stop people seeking help
Spread stereotypes
Minimise lived experience
Negatively influence attitudes towards people struggling with drugs, alcohol and mental health challenges
Stigma affects people who need support, as well as their families and local communities, leaving people feeling isolated. In one way or another, it impacts and touches us all.
That’s why we take a person-centred approach to language. When we choose words that focus on the person first, we choose a more compassionate approach. One that sees the person - not a label, substance or the challenges they’re experiencing.
Using person-centred language is just one part of challenging stigma, but recognising its power helps create a safe space where everyone can feel supported in their recovery.
Everyone should feel comfortable choosing the words they feel best describe their own experiences and identity. Language is complex. Some people choose to use words and phrases like “in addiction” or “alcoholic” and find these words meaningful to their identity or recovery. Others may reclaim these terms as an important part of how they describe themselves or their experiences, while others may find them stigmatising or harmful.
The words people use to describe their own experiences and identity are personal. While we use person-centred language when speaking about the people and communities we support, we want to empower our clients and anyone experiencing challenges with drugs or alcohol to express themselves in the way that feels most authentic and comfortable to them, without judgement.
This guidance aims to raise awareness of the power of our language and challenge stigma within ourselves, the drug and alcohol sector, and the wider media.
Person-centred language is intended to avoid causing harm to those engaging in conversations about challenges with drugs, alcohol or mental health.
Person-centred language also helps recovery workers better understand a person’s experiences and behaviour. Saying “person who injects drugs” rather than “drug user” provides more specific and meaningful information about someone’s circumstances, whilst recognising the person beyond their drug or alcohol use. This helps our recovery workers develop a more accurate understanding of a person’s needs.
It’s important to emphasise that the context in which language is used matters, and some people will use these words when talking about themselves and find them personally meaningful or empowering. We will never ask people to stop using language that is right for them.
Below are some common words and phrases, along with alternative suggestions to consider using, depending on the circumstance, context and individual/s being discussed.
Person who uses drugs or alcohol.
Using “person who…” puts the person before their behaviour, avoiding labels that can define someone by their substance use.
Person who uses drugs or alcohol, person who has drug, alcohol or mental health challenges.
Expressions and slang words like these can disempower people by trivialising or sensationalising their experiences. They are often derogatory, reinforcing stigma and negative stereotypes.
Challenges with drugs or alcohol, with substance use, substance use disorder, or problematic substance use.
‘Challenges’ takes a compassionate approach. It recognises what someone is going through without blaming them, judging them or using stereotypes.
A person who injects drugs.
Putting the person first puts person-centred values into practice. It shows you see the person, not just the challenge.
Overcoming dependency, person in recovery, abstinent, person who has stopped using drugs or alcohol.
Words like ‘clean’ have negative judgements; 'clean' implies that someone was ‘dirty’ when using drugs or alcohol.
Lapse (one-off or short-term), relapse (longer-term), difficulty/challenges stopping using.
Terms like this can make people in recovery feel ashamed or like they've failed.
Person in recovery, person in long-term recovery.
Terms like this keep stigma alive and focus on someone's past struggles instead of how far they've come.
People come to us for many different reasons and in many different circumstances.
However someone arrives, we want them to be met with language that says: you’re welcome here, you won’t be judged here, and we’re with you.
Whether you’re supporting someone, a professional in the sector, or reporting on these issues in the news, you have the power to break down the stigma around drugs and alcohol.
Change starts with the words we choose. Every time.
Storytelling is central to how we connect people to our work. It began with Mollie’s story back in 1967 and today, sharing lived experience remains an important part of our communications activity. In our work, we avoid using language that may be stigmatising, while recognising that some people may choose to describe themselves in these terms. If someone describes themselves as an “addict” or “alcoholic”, we use these terms when directly quoting someone telling their story. This ensures that we represent their experiences authentically, while respecting their right to describe themselves in the way that resonates most with them.
When we use person-centred language, we can challenge stigma and encourage more people to reach out for support. The table above provides information on what language to use, and if you need more information, reach out to our media team who can provide practical guidance and support for journalists to report on drug and alcohol use responsibly.
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