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10/18/2016

Changing the Language of Addiction: public comment sought

The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) is seeking public comment on a draft of Changing the Language of Addiction, a document addressing ways non-stigmatizing terminology can be used when discussing substance use and substance use disorders. Prepared in consultation with experts in the field of substance use, this guidance addresses the role stigma plays in preventing people from seeking and receiving quality care, identifies scientific and medical literature demonstrating how certain terminology adversely affects the quality of health care and treatment outcomes for individuals with substance use disorders, and promotes the use of person-first language and new terminology that aligns with the current edition of The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed., American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Send comments to feedback@ondcp.eop.gov by 5 p.m. on Nov. 4.

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