Describing addiction as a “chronically relapsing brain disease” is intended to decrease stigma, but may actually increase it
Describing addiction as a “chronically relapsing brain disease” is intended to decrease stigma, but may actually increase it
Biomedical terminology has been deployed purposely to describe addiction in an effort to reduce stigma. However, using these terms may have unintended consequences. While intensely debated, there were no rigorous scientific studies to empirically inform practice and policy regarding which specific terms may be most helpful in reducing stigma. In this study, the researchers used a rigorous study design to examine if exposure to a variety of commonly used medical and nonmedical terms describing opioid-related impairment makes a difference in people’s attitudes toward those with opioid use disorder. (Recovery Research Institute, USA, April 2021)
https://www.recoveryanswers.org/research-post/describing-addiction-chronically-relapsing-brain-disease-intended-reduce-stigma-may-increase/