Information You Need to Know

The expression "alcohol and other drugs, including tobacco" emphasizes the fact that alcohol and tobacco are drugs.

The term "use" should be used when making statements about people who should not drink alcohol like youth, pregnant women, recovering alcoholics, or operators of motor vehicles or other machinery.

Otherwise the terms "misuse" and "abuse" are appropriate.

Concerning illicit drugs, the term "use" is more descriptive and may connote less of a judgment than the term "abuse," which may imply that "use" is permissible but "abuse" is not.

Since drug use should not be considered recreational, avoid the term "recreational use of drugs," which trivializes drug-taking behavior.

"Drug use" is also preferred to the term "responsible use," because there is always risk (health, social, and/or legal) associated with all alcohol, tobacco and other drug use.

Avoid using derogatory terms such as "drunks," "potheads," or "dope fiends." These expressions show a lack of respect for individuals with problems and may alienate the very people toward whom prevention efforts are aimed.

Because a person’s driving can be impaired before the person reaches a drunken state, the term "alcohol-impaired driving" or "drinking and driving" is preferable to "drunk driving."

Source: CSAP Editorial Style Guidelines: Suggested Terminology for Developing Materials About Alcohol and Other Drug Problems (1992).

Avoid Labeling Youth

As the prevention coordinator at your school site, you want to address the various needs of your student population. While you may be able to identify the needs of some youth who are in immediate need of intervention and prevention services, you must be careful not to label them with titles such as "high risk" .

Negative labels may actually influence the expectations of the student, parents, teachers, staff persons and more.

The truth is some children that are not considered to be at high risk for alcohol, tobacco and other drug use will go on to have serious problems. Others considered at high risk for use will grow up to be resilient, capable people, free of alcohol, tobacco and other drug problems.

The Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) suggests that the term "youth in high-risk environments" be used. It avoids stigmatizing young people and emphasizes the critical role environmental factors play in the development of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug problems among youth.

Source: Office of Inspector General Report on Youth and Alcohol (1991), Prevention Resource Guide: Elementary Youth (1991), Prevention Resource Guide: Secondary School Students (1991)

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