Alcoholism: The Words We Choose Are the Problem

The stigma associated with alcoholism is the barrier that prevents people from admitting their truth and curing their disease. And the stigma is a product of the words we choose to describe this affliction that kills three million people a year.

You have a drinking problem. You need to get help.

A deeply imbedded splinter is a problem. A flat tire is a problem. The brain disease suffered by over fifteen million Americans is way more than a problem.

When I moved a couch from my upstairs to my downstairs, I needed help. When the city made me remove a mostly dead tree from my yard in the interest of public safety, I needed help. When my arms were full as I approached a door, I needed a little help.

When I became addicted to one of the world’s most addictive substances, I didn’t need help. I needed a treatment plan based on neurological research and experience.

You might think this linguistic specificity is just nitpicking. Here’s the thing. The reason only a small fraction of those fifteen million American alcoholics seek treatment is because of the shame they feel for the condition they have contracted. When we describe the thing that is wrecking our lives…