We applaud your efforts to bring addiction to the Teaneck community’s attention for the April 22 Amudim event, “Addiction and Substance Abuse Can Happen to Anyone” (April 12, 2018).

One important step is to destigmatize substance use and mental health disorders so people feel safe talking about it. Using person-first language is critical. Person-first language communicates respect and empathy toward people with substance use disorders, and destigmatizes addiction. Destigmatizing language should be the standard for all communication and for all of us, whether in private conversation or public discourse.

What is person-first language? Person-first language focuses on the person and doesn’t reduce the person to their disorder or disability. “Person with substance use disorder” not “addict.” “Person with alcohol use disorder” not “alcoholic.” “Abstinent” not “clean” and “positive for substance use” not “dirty.” “Person who uses drugs” not “drug user.” Person-first language applies similarly to mental health and medical disorders: “person with developmental delays” not “retard,” “has bipolar disorder,” not “is bipolar.” In fact, the national style guide for medical publications directs writers to “never” use “diabetic” to describe a “person with diabetes.” If we want to change our thinking, let’s start with our language. Please help our community do better by emphasizing person-first language!

Deborah Teplow

CEO, Institute for Wellness Education

Editor’s note: Our team at The Jewish Link supports the use of person-first language.