The Power of Language in Addiction Treatment and Responsible Gambling

Does stigmatizing language cause drop-out from addiction treatment? Does it keep gamblers from taking advantage of responsible gambling (RG) tools? The American Society of Addiction Medicine has led the way in proposing non- stigmatizing language for use by treatment professionals. Similarly, researchers working on Positive Play, a responsible gambling approach, have proposed changes in the language and concepts of RG. This session will provide treatment providers and responsible gambling professionals guidance on how to improve communication with clients and gamblers.