# What do former drug addicts prefer to be called? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 14, 2015, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-former-drug-addicts-prefer-to-be-called/740438 "2015-12-14T19:38:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2015, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-former-drug-addicts-prefer-to-be-called/740438/21 "2015-12-15T14:03:30Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > Their name. > > Why do we always look for labels? > > Addict. > Recovering \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ > Ex-\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ > > How about just ‘people’? Because we aren’t writing about specific people. > [@kunilou](#): > > Why don’t you just ask your client how it refers to that group of people. Some prefer “patients,” some “clients,” in-patient facilities talk about “residents” and so on. They are basically leaving it up to us, which is why we’re focusing so hard on it. At the end of the day we generally go with “patients” when we can, and then “recovering individuals” when we’re talking about people outside of the facilities ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2015, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-former-drug-addicts-prefer-to-be-called/740438/22 "2015-12-15T14:09:26Z")
Wouldn’t the University trained therapist be up on all the latest lingo? Ask that person. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2015, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-former-drug-addicts-prefer-to-be-called/740438/23 "2015-12-15T14:23:24Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > At the end of the day we generally go with “patients” when we can, and then “recovering individuals” when we’re talking about people outside of the facilities How about just “patients” and “former patients”? ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2015, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-former-drug-addicts-prefer-to-be-called/740438/24 "2015-12-15T14:31:15Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > Their name. > > Why do we always look for labels? Seriously? You think it’s bad for a brochure to state: > [@](#): > > The staff at our facility will always maintain strict confidentiality with our residents. …and that it would be _better_ for the brochure to state: > [@](#): > > The staff at our facility will always maintain strict confidentiality with Bob, Steven, Marybeth, Reuben, Aaron, Diane, Heather, Courtney, Rudolpho, Angela, George, Vance, Christina, fat Robert, skinny Robert, Sister Mary Constance, Senator Johnson, Emil, Barbara Ann, Jessie’s girl, half the McKinley High School JV Lacrosse Team, etc. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2015, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-former-drug-addicts-prefer-to-be-called/740438/25 "2015-12-15T16:39:13Z")
> [@Doctor\_Jackson](#): > > How about just “patients” and “former patients”? Mostly because we aren’t always talking about people who have gone through formal treatment. That being said, when we are talking about them then this is a great response ---
**Author:** ![Dante](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dante/32/9673_2.png) [@Dante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dante)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2015, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-former-drug-addicts-prefer-to-be-called/740438/26 "2015-12-15T17:09:18Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > Technically, I am a ‘former’ alcoholic - I used it for sleep and was appalled to discover a physical dependency. Anyone who wants to identify me as a (insert label here) will not be viewed kindly. > > Thise who self-identify as ‘recovering alcoholic’ are the most obnoxious people I know. > p.s. - it is quite easy for _some_ “former alcoholics” to have a beer with their pizza or wine with their lunch. > It is even possible to go out drinking with the gang. I have a bit of vodka in the pantry. I has been there since 2009. I refer to myself as a “recovering alcoholic” because “former” implies my addiction is in the past, and it most certainly is not. You do what works for you, and I’ll do what works for me. I’ll try to keep the obnoxiousiosity to a dull roar, though. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2015, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-former-drug-addicts-prefer-to-be-called/740438/27 "2015-12-15T17:18:46Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > …we are running into is what we are calling the people who are within, and/or recent graduates of, the facility. No one on staff personally knows anyone who has gone through the recovery process so we don’t have anyone we can really ask, so I thought I’d make a thread here… Have you considered asking current patients and recent graduates what they would prefer to be called? There is some value in asking a sensitivity specialist, but even that can backfire in horrible ways if you aren’t careful. By going directly to the people, you could be confident in going forward with their own self-identification term. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2015, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-former-drug-addicts-prefer-to-be-called/740438/28 "2015-12-15T19:07:46Z")
QTM has it nailed. least IMO. ( 28 years so far but the day ain’t over ) ---
**Author:** ![Staggerlee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/staggerlee/32/3134_2.png) [@Staggerlee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Staggerlee)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2015, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-former-drug-addicts-prefer-to-be-called/740438/29 "2015-12-17T22:18:43Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > _Survivor_? Seriously? God, that’s fucking pretentious. Absolutely; one of the latest bits of language I despise, but quite popular. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-former-drug-addicts-prefer-to-be-called/740438.md?page=1)