Important Announcements

Nondiscrimination Statement Update

Boston Medical Center Health System complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, national origin (including limited English proficiency and primary language), religion, culture, physical or mental disabilities, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity and/or expression. BMCHS provides free aids and services to people with disabilities and free language services to people whose primary language is not English.

To see our full nondiscrimination statement, click here.

Campus Construction Update

Starting September 14, we’re closing the Menino building lobby entrance. This, along with the ongoing Yawkey building entrance closure, will help us bring you an even better campus experience that matches the exceptional care you've come to expect. Please enter the Menino and Yawkey buildings through the Moakley building, and make sure to leave extra time to get to your appointment. Thank you for your patience. 

Click here to learn more about our campus redesign. 

Substance Use Disorder

Substance Use Disorder

Noun

The clinical term describing the occurrence of recurrent use of alcohol and/or drugs causing clinically significant impairment, including health problems, disability, and failure to meet major responsibilities at work, school, or home. Sometimes referred to as “addiction”, substance use disorders are common, recurrent, and often serious, but they are treatable and many people do recover.

  • SUBSTANCE USE - The use of a substance or substances, usually for the purposes of pain management and/or intoxication. This is the preferred term over substance abuse which some people believe implies negative judgement and blame. Instead, many recommend using the terms “substance use” or “non-medical use.
  • SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER - A term sometimes used to describe an array of problems resulting from the use of drugs and/or alcohol. It has also been used as a diagnostic label. Person with a Substance Use Disorder is the preferred term over terms like “alcoholic”, “addict”, or “junkie” which some people believe is de-humanizing and implies negative judgement and blame. Some people with Substance Use Disorders may refer to themselves as an “addict”, but this is not appropriate language from a provider in a clinical or professional setting.

To learn more about why words about addiction matter, check out Grayken Center for Addiction’s work on reducing stigma. 

Source

Adapted from SAMHSA by the Grayken Center for Addiction.

The Glossary for Culture Transformation is a living document to be revised on an annual basis.

Suggested Citation: Office of Equity, Vitality, and Inclusion, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, and Boston University Medical Group. Glossary for Culture Transformation. 2021.

For questions or suggestions, please email wordsmatter@bu.edu