Should We Stop Using the Word ‘Alcoholic’?

GO BACK TO BOOZEHOUND? –

April 12, 2023 – Are there any reasons why we should still use the a-word? Someone with an alcohol use disorder may prefer the term alcoholic when referring to themself. In fact, the term alcoholic is an important term for many members of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Moving away from the a-word, in general, should not prevent people from referring to themselves using this term if they prefer to do so. At the same time, it is important for people to reflect on what this word means to them and whether it empowers them or holds them back in their recovery process. This way, they can make an informed decision about whether they wish to refer to themselves in this way.

This is just the start of the conversation.Now that you know the power of words and how to talk about alcohol use disorder in a less stigmatizing way, it is time to put this knowledge into action! Together, we can make a real impact to reduce stigmatizing language by correcting the words we use and educating the people around us to use less stigmatizing language.