Stigma is one of the strongest reasons people with opioid use disorder don’t seek treatment – and it often starts with one word: “addict.” 

The stigma surrounding opioid use disorders (OUD) is deeply rooted in American culture. It’s ingrained in our healthcare, criminal justice system, media, and everyday language. Many see people with OUD as dangerous or morally weak, not as people with medical conditions. This shows up in daily life as discrimination, avoidance, and fewer opportunities to access treatment and harm reduction services. As a result, people with OUD are less likely to receive medication, counseling, or even basic compassion. And when those beliefs influence laws and policies, stigma becomes built into the system, which makes it even harder for people to get help. 

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One of the most powerful drivers of stigma is language. Calling someone an “addict” carries the connotation of moral failing. So does the word “abuse.” Saying they “relapsed” suggests failure. Even worse, labelling people as “junkies”, “tweakers”, or “med-seeking” strips them of their humanity and minimizes their struggles. You never know when someone around you is struggling. Hearing that kind of language reinforces the idea that they are not worthy of help. Imagine needing help for a medical condition, but knowing that the moment you ask, you might be labeled an “addict.” 

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Instead, refer to people as “persons with opioid use disorder”. This person-first language emphasizes their humanity. Instead of “relapse,” consider “return to use” or “recurrence of use,” which frames it as part of a medical condition rather than a moral failure. Don’t call people “med-seeking”. Almost anyone who sees a physician is “med-seeking”, so reserving that term for only people with OUD disproportionately singles them out.

Small changes in how we speak can save a life, maybe even the life of the person standing next to you.