A positive language campaign has been launched in Dundee to support the city’s drug users.
Organisers say using words like ‘junkie’ and smackhead’ to describe addicts can negatively impact a person’s recovery efforts.
The ‘Language Matters’ group is led by NHS Tayside’s Public Health team.
It also includes people with lived experience of stigma and substance use and staff from key support agencies that form part of Dundee Alcohol and Drug Partnership.
To launch the campaign, a thought provoking animation has been developed by the multi-agency group that can be seen here.
NHS Tayside Director of Public Health Dr Emma Fletcher said: “The language used when any of us speak about people who use drugs can really impact how they feel about themselves and how they are viewed by others.
“Experiences of stigma and discrimination can lead to profound social isolation and rejection by family and friends, driving people away from support services and communities and causing poorer health outcomes.
“Using negative language about people with drug dependence undermines all of our efforts to help them to tackle their condition and enable recovery.”
Some members of Resolve and Evolve, a group promoting recovery in Dundee, shared why the campaign is an important step to reduce stigma that people experience.
One called Angela said: “We are all human no matter what walk of life we come from. Stigmatising language is not helpful and we all need to rethink the words we use."
While another, Kim, added, “Stigma has affected me in the past and still affects others. Judgemental attitudes and stereotyping people must be challenged.
“I believe it begins with educating our family and friends. It is about starting from home and guiding our children about the impact stigmatising language has on society, so that when they grow up, they can explain it to a friend.
“We are more powerful than we think. Tell someone if they use stigmatising language as they may not have been shown or had explained to them, the impact it can have."
The campaign, which is part of wider work to challenge and eliminate stigma towards people who experience problems with drugs, was developed in response to recommendations from the Dundee Drugs Commission.
**Don't miss the latest headlines from around Dundee and Tayside. Sign up to our newsletters here
And did you know Dundee Live is on Facebook? Head over to our page to give us a like and a share
