Labels - Substance Use Disorder

addiction family support opioid use disorder Jul 12, 2022

“Labeling automatically leads to false conclusions and wrong assumptions about others.”
― Alan G. Fields

The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), which is used to diagnose disorders, was published in 2013 and changed the terminology from substance abuse, addiction, or alcoholism to Substance Use Disorder (SUD), which encompasses both drugs and alcohol. Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) focused solely on alcohol and Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) focused on opioids.

Mental health professionals have long argued that labeling someone as a substance abuser is defining the entire person by their disease. However, when a person is said to have a substance use disorder, it is understood they have a medical problem that does not define their entire person. Just like a person with cancer or heart disease is far more than their diagnosis, a person with an alcohol or drug use problem has an entire identity apart from their illness, no matter what their label.

Fortunately, decades of research have given us a deeper understanding of what drives an individual’s compulsion to continue using drugs or alcohol despite negative consequences. This deeper understanding has also shone a light on the harm caused by negative labels.

As Michael P. Botticelli writes in ‘Changing the Language of Addiction,’ “This is not just about being politically correct. There’s scientific evidence to show that language matters. We know stigma plays a huge role in why some people with substance use disorders avoid or delay seeking treatment.”

The Mayo Clinic warns that “stigma can lead to discrimination.” According to their website, the harmful effects of stigma may include:

Reluctance to seek help or treatment
Lack of understanding by family, friends, co-workers, or others
Fewer opportunities for work, school, or social activities or trouble finding housing
Bullying, physical violence, or harassment
Health insurance that doesn’t adequately cover your mental illness treatment
The belief that you’ll never succeed at certain challenges or that you can’t improve your situation

It’s clear there’s a great need for raising awareness of the harm caused by negative labels and that stigmatizing those suffering from a substance use disorder, or any disorder, is unfair, traumatic, and may threaten their decision to seek help.

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🐅 How do you actually communicate under pressure?

Most people think they know how they show up in difficult conversations. Most are surprised when they slow down long enough to look honestly.

The Tiger Mirror is a short, guided self-assessment designed to help you recognize your communication pattern under stress. Not labels. Not judgment. Just clarity.

If you’ve ever stayed quiet, pushed too hard, or walked away replaying conversations in your head, this mirror was built for you.

👉 Step into the Tiger Mirror here - answer these 10 questions below and submit for your results!

When someone interrupts you mid-sentence, your most common response is:

A. I stop talking and let them finish, even if my point never gets said

B. I push back immediately and speak louder or faster

C. I let it go in the moment, but feel frustrated afterward

D. I pause, then calmly reclaim the floor and continue my thought

You are asked to take on extra responsibility that you do not have capacity for. What usually happens?

A. I agree, even though I know it will stretch me too thin

B. I respond sharply or defensively

C. I say yes outwardly, but feel resentful and withdrawn later

D. I acknowledge the request and state what I can realistically take on

When conflict starts to rise in a conversation, you tend to:

A. Shut down and hope it passes

B. Lean in aggressively to regain control

C. Avoid the issue and replay the conversation later in my head

D. Stay present and focus on clarity rather than winning

If someone misunderstands your intention, your first instinct is to:

A. Let it go, even if it feels unfair

B. Correct them forcefully

C. Say nothing, but feel misunderstood afterward

D. Clarify your intention calmly and directly

When you need to ask for something important, how does it usually feel?

A. Uncomfortable. I worry about being a burden

B. Urgent. I feel tense and keyed up

C. Heavy. I delay it longer than I should

D. Grounded. I feel prepared to ask clearly

After a difficult conversation, you are most likely to:

A. Question whether I should have said anything at all

B. Feel justified but still unsettled

C. Replay the conversation repeatedly

D. Feel clear about what I said, regardless of the outcome

When someone crosses a boundary you care about, you usually:

A. Say nothing and adjust myself instead

B. Call it out strongly in the moment

C. Pull back emotionally or distance myself later

D. Address it directly and explain the impact

In high-pressure situations, your voice and body language tend to:

A. Get quieter or smaller

B. Become tense or forceful

C. Stay controlled outwardly but tight internally

D. Remain steady and intentional

When expressing disagreement, you are most likely to:

A. Avoid it to keep the peace

B. State your position bluntly

C. Hint at your disagreement rather than say it outright

D. Express your perspective while respecting the other person

When you think about assertive communication, what resonates most?

A. I know I should speak up more, but it feels risky

B. I speak up, but it often escalates

C. I wish I could say what I mean without tension afterward

D. I want to strengthen consistency and confidence in my voice

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Labels - Substance Use Disorder

🐅 How do you actually communicate under pressure?

You Can Decide Today