"Clean Addict": A "Semantic Warning Sign" and a Bridge to an Integrated Recovery Identity

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Sociology
• Medical Humanities

Background:

• Terminology in substance use disorder (SUD) treatment significantly impacts patient perception and recovery.
• Understanding how SUD professionals interpret and utilize specific terms is crucial for effective therapeutic communication.
• Existing research often overlooks the nuanced perspectives of clinicians regarding stigmatizing or empowering language.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore how SUD-treating professionals perceive and employ SUD-related terminology.
• To understand the clinical utility and potential drawbacks of terms like "addict" and "clean addict" from the professionals' viewpoint.
• To investigate the role of professional terminology in shaping client identity during recovery.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving 32 diverse SUD professionals (social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists).
• Data collected via individual semi-structured interviews (in-person and virtual).
• Analysis employed the reflexive thematic method within a constructivist framework.

Main Results:

• Professionals use terms like "addict" and "clean addict" as "semantic warning signs" to highlight SUD's chronic nature and encourage client vigilance.
• These terms play a dual role in identity transition: supporting continuity of the "addict" identity while potentially hindering broader integration.
• Professionals demonstrate nuanced, context-sensitive language use, acknowledging both clinical benefits and limitations of specific terms.

Conclusions:

• SUD professionals' perspectives are vital in shaping therapeutic terminology, recognizing its dual capacity for stigma and empowerment.
• Professional terms are culturally embedded constructs with varying impacts across contexts.
• Further cross-cultural research is needed to examine these dynamics in diverse linguistic and cultural settings.