We’ve all heard
the phrase “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt
me.” Unfortunately, while a comforting sentiment, this oft-quoted aphorism
could not be more untrue. Words are extremely powerful, and can cause emotional
damage that, left untreated, could escalate and lead to serious psychological
problems. This is especially true when dealing with individuals who struggle
with substance abuse.
Lea Winerman of
the Monitor staff referenced the National Survey on Drug Use and Health in
a recent article based on the research of on Dr. John F. Kelly, stating that
only about one in 10 people in the United States who need drug or alcohol
treatment actually gets it. Often times, individuals who struggle with
substances may acknowledge that they have a problem, but will be reluctant to
seek treatment because they fear being branded an “abuser.” Dr. Kelly explained
the issue thus: "The word ‘abuser' implies volitional acts of willful
misconduct, and is associated with things like child abuse…substance use is the
only thing we talk about this way. People with eating problems are referred to
as individuals with eating disorders, never as food abusers.”
Kelly did an experiment in which he
surveyed over 500 mental health care providers. He presented clinicians with
two vignettes about a fictional person with a substance abuse disorder who had
relapsed while going through a court-mandated treatment program. In one
vignette, the character is referred to as a “substance abuser,” and in the
other a person with a “substance use disorder.” Those clinicians who read about
the “substance abuser” were significantly more likely to say that the person
was responsible for their own actions and should be punished. The same test,
when given to members of the general public, had even more drastic results.
In light of these results, Kelly suggests
that words like “abuser,” as well as “misuse," "hazardous use,"
"harmful use" and "unhealthy use" should be removed from
general psychological vocabulary. The usage of these words, while not used
maliciously in most cases, create stigma surrounding the disorder, and makes
sufferers less and less likely to seek treatment for fear of being judged.
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