Pubdate: Sun, 15 Nov 2015
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (PA)
Copyright: 2015 PG Publishing Co., Inc.
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/pm4R4dI4
Website: http://www.post-gazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/341
Authors: Lauren M. Broyles and Shaddy K. Saba

DRUG ADDICTION IS NOT A MORAL FAILING

As a nurse addictions researcher and social worker, respectively, we 
are disappointed by the orientation, tone and language used in the 
Nov. 8 Forum article "Three Moms, Three Addicts." The subtext 
arguably comes across as "we suburban white people from religious 
homes, with talented and beautiful children who attended good schools 
were living right, and addiction happened to our kids." This implies 
both that addiction is a moral failing and that certain communities 
should not be affected. These ideas are inaccurate and unhelpful.

Furthermore, the undercurrents in these women's stories reflect a 
biopsychosocial model of addiction, but the language in the article 
reflects the outdated moral model. The underlying issues presented 
are trauma, mental health and lack of timely access to integrated 
treatment for substance use or mental health disorders. But the 
language used here is about being "clean" (vs. dirty), being 
"blessed" (vs. cursed), "good choices" (vs. bad) and being "good but 
troubled" (vs. bad), with "tough love" and religion as the implicit solutions.

When talking about the complex issue of addiction, language should 
(1) respect people's worth and dignity ("people-first language"); (2) 
focus on the medical nature of substance use disorders and treatment; 
(3) promote recovery; and (4) avoid perpetuating stereotypes through 
the use of slang and idioms.

Following these principles would not diminish the pain and loss of 
these women. Instead, it reinforces the fact that their children were 
multidimensional people, and honors the complexity of addiction and 
its treatment in all people and all communities.

LAUREN M. BROYLES, Ph.D., R.N.

O'Hara

SHADDY K. SABA

Shadyside
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom