The use of stigmatizing language in grant abstracts funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has seen a significant decrease in recent years, according to a study conducted by researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. The study revealed that the use of stigmatizing terminology has decreased by over half since 2013, although one in four abstracts still contained stigmatizing terms in 2023.
The researchers noted that the decrease in stigmatizing language was accelerated after high-level federal guidance in early 2017, urging the use of non-stigmatizing language. This trend continued after NIDA issued similar guidance in 2021. Despite the positive progress, the researchers emphasized that stigmatizing terms are still prevalent in grant abstracts and called for further efforts to eliminate such language.
Stigmatizing language related to substance use can have detrimental effects, and various initiatives have been implemented to promote the use of more humanizing language. In 2013, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders revised its diagnostic labels to “substance use disorders,” and several organizations have issued guidance on the importance of non-stigmatizing language.
The study analyzed data from 6065 NIDA-funded grants from fiscal years 2013 to 2023, identifying nine stigmatizing terms outlined in NIDA’s Words Matter guidance. The researchers found that more than half of grant abstracts in 2013 used stigmatizing language, with a quarter of abstracts still containing such terms in 2023. Stigmatizing terminology referring to substance use behavior was more prevalent than terms referring to people who use substances.
Moving forward, the researchers suggested further investigation into efforts to reduce stigmatizing language and the continuation of positive trends in the future. Changing the language used in research writing is crucial in combating stigma towards individuals who use substances.
The study was led by Evan Eschliman, Ph.D., a post-doctoral research fellow at Columbia University, with Pia Mauro, Ph.D., assistant professor of Epidemiology at Columbia Mailman School, serving as the senior author. Additional co-authors included researchers from New York University and the State University of New York, Albany.
For more information, the study titled “Stigmatizing Substance Use Terminology in Grant Abstracts Following High-Level Language Guidance” was published in JAMA Network Open. The research team highlighted the importance of using non-stigmatizing language in grant writing to promote a more inclusive and respectful approach towards individuals with substance use disorders.
