You take care of the people you love. If you are concerned that a friend or family member may be misusing prescription opioids, it’s time to speak up. Watch this video to learn the signs of misuse and get help navigating tough conversations.
Ready to start a conversation but don’t know where to start? Click to download expert-created conversation guides with strategies and language for navigating these conversations in real life.
When talking about opioid misuse, our words matter. Addiction is a disease, not a moral failing. Language that labels or blames people can make them feel ashamed, alone or hopeless, and less likely to seek help. Click through for examples of words and phrases you can use to talk about opioid use disorder that are helpful for everyone.
SAY THIS
A person with Opioid
Use Disorder
(OUD)
NOT THAT
Addict,
pill popper,
junkie
SAY THIS
Prescription opioid misuse
NOT THAT
Drug abuse,
doing drugs
SAY THIS
A person who misuses
prescription
opioids
NOT THAT
Drug user/abuser
SAY THIS
Drug-seeking behavior
NOT THAT
Doctor shopping,
pill pusher
SAY THIS
Negative,
positive,
substance-free
NOT THAT
Clean, dirty
SAY THIS
Person in recovery
NOT THAT
Recovering addict
For anyone struggling with opioid addiction, help is available.
