Addiction Medicine Medical Vocabulary
Language Matters: We have witnessed remarkable progress in the understanding of the disease of addiction over the past two decades. Research into the neurophysiology, psychology, sociology, and various treatment modalities of the disease of addiction, is on a par with any of the other chronic diseases.
Achieving Parity in Medicine
One of our most important goals is to achieve parity with other specialties in medicine. Indeed, much progress, due to the prodigious efforts of many, has already been made in achieving parity. Why shouldn’t our medical discipline try to instill medical vocabulary, into what we all know is a chronic medical disease.
The Importance of Medical Terminology
Our vocabulary in Addiction Medicine is often different from standard medical vocabulary. There has been a tradition of using terms which tend to stigmatize and stereotype our patients and discipline. Many of these terms are slang or “street” language. Although often easily understood and sometimes colorful, they belong in the domain of sociology and ethnography.
As medical professionals, it is important that we limit “slang” vocabulary. We believe that if we adhere to usual medical terminology, it will help our patients and our field of addiction medicine. Nevertheless, we would like to be the first major conference dealing with the disease of addiction to focus on the vocabulary issue.
Clinical Communication and Clarity
We realize that many of these expressions are deeply imbedded in our field and make for quick communication. We also realize that in certain treatment modalities these terms may be felt to have therapeutic value. We also understand that in dealing with a patient, it is necessary to meet them where they are.
Obviously, communication in a clinical setting is of paramount importance, and many of these “slang” terms, are necessary for clarity with a patient. But in other areas of medicine, eventually patients learn proper medical terminology from their providers.
Transitioning to Professional Vocabulary
- An example would be diabetes, instead of sugar.
Professionalism in addiction medicine requires us to move beyond slang to established medical terms to better serve our patients.