Episode 62 | The #RecoveryFirst Podcast with Mike Todd | “Changing the perspective: people first language in Recovery”Episode 62 | The #RecoveryFirst Podcast with Mike Todd | “Changing the perspective: people first language in Recovery”
The Recovery First Addiction Recovery Podcast by Freedom Recovery Services of Greenville
Mike Todd focuses on how people-first language can reduce stigma around substance use disorder and mental illness, and discusses a proposed South Carolina bill that reflects this shift. He also shares the development of recovery housing and efforts to provide naloxone and support for residents across the state.
10:42•29 Jan 2022
Changing the Words, Changing the Stigma: People-First Language in Recovery
Episode Overview
- Language such as “addict” and “clean” can create stigma and discourage people and families from seeking help for substance use disorder and mental illness.
- People-first language like “person in long-term recovery” helps others see recovery as possible and recognises individuals as community members first.
- Different terms may be used within 12-step settings, but clear, respectful language is crucial when speaking with legislators, law enforcement and the wider public.
- A proposed South Carolina bill aims to formalise people-first terminology in discussions about addiction and mental health.
- The South Carolina Recovery Housing Association focuses on supporting recovery housing operators, including getting naloxone into all recovery housing and training residents to use it.
“The first thing they need to understand is that I am a person. I am a person. First and foremost, I am a part of this community.”
How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? This episode of The Recovery First Addiction Recovery Podcast zooms in on something that’s often overlooked yet hugely powerful: the words people use. Host Mike Todd talks about a new proposed bill in South Carolina that aims to shift how substance use disorder and mental illness are described.
Instead of labels like “addict” or “clean”, he pushes for people-first language such as “persons in long-term recovery” and “people who suffer from mental illness.” As Mike puts it plainly, “The first thing they need to understand is that I am a person. I am a person. First and foremost, I am a part of this community.” You’ll hear Mike balance respect for 12-step culture with the wider need to communicate clearly with the public, legislators and law enforcement.
He explains that while in a 12-step meeting he might still say “I’m an addict” or “I got clean”, those phrases can confuse people outside that setting and reinforce stigma instead of understanding. The episode also touches on the shame that can stop families from seeking help, and how language can either fuel that shame or ease it.
Mike highlights the work of advocates and organisations across South Carolina who are backing this legislative effort, all with one goal: making it safer and more acceptable for people to come forward for support. Towards the end, Mike shares how recovery housing has evolved over 30 years, why the South Carolina Recovery Housing Association was formed, and how getting naloxone into all recovery housing has become a key safety standard.
If you’ve ever wondered whether words really matter in recovery, this conversation might have you rethinking the way you talk about yourself and others—so how could a simple change in language shift the way you see recovery today?
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