These Federal agencies were named decades ago and have since played a lead role in educating the public about stigmatizing language, such as the word ‘abuse”, and its effects on access to treatment and recovery in communities across the nation.” – Patty McCarthy, CEO, Faces & Voices of Recovery
WASHINGTON (PRWEB)
September 17, 2020
Faces & Voices of Recovery and the Recovery Research Institute of Harvard Medical School & Massachusetts General Hospital have joined together in creating a petition to end the use of the term “Abuse” in the names of governmental agencies which use the outdated term.
Words and language matter and stigma has been identified as a barrier to treatment and recovery among individuals with addiction. Terms such as “abuse,” increase stigma and add additional harm to those seeking – as well as those in – recovery.
Addiction is a disease. Using words such as “abuse” or “abuser” implies that addiction is a character flaw. It takes an act of congress to change a government agency name, so support is needed at all levels.
Please visit here to learn more about this petition and movement for change, https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/change-the-name-end-the-stigma
“These Federal agencies were named decades ago and have since played a lead role in educating the public about stigmatizing language, such as the word ‘abuse’, and its effects on access to treatment and recovery in communities across the nation. It literally takes an act of Congress to make this change and now is the time for our grassroots recovery advocacy community to step up to have our voices heard.” – Patty McCarthy, CEO, Faces & Voices of Recovery
For more information on Faces & Voices of Recovery please visit http://www.facesandvoicesofrecovery.org.
Emily Porcelli, Marketing and Communications
Faces & Voices of Recovery
202-741-9392
eporcelli@facesandvoicesofrecovery.org
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