Effective Prevention in New Jersey

A Note for the Reader: Revised Language

ABUSE VS. USE/MISUSE “Addiction is a chronic but treatable medical condition. Often unintentionally, many people still talk about addiction in ways that are stigmatizing—meaning they use words that can portray someone with a substance use disorder (SUD) in a shameful or negative way and may prevent them from seeking treatment. With simple changes in language, harmful stigma and negativity around SUD can be reduced or avoided.” Following this best practice, words such as “abuse” and other stigmatizing language within this document will be replaced even when it is within a quote or from an outside source as those items were written prior to these important changes in the language we use. When referring to youth use of a substance prior to the legal age of use (21 years of age) as well as the misuse of a substance such as a prescription drug that is being used outside of a prescribed use, we will replace substance “abuse” with substance “use/misuse”. MARIJUANA VS. CANNABIS Please note, as of the date of publication, Governor Murphy signed into law legislation legalizing and regulating cannabis use and possession for adults 21 years and older. Following this, the New Jersey Attorney General made a distinction between the terms marijuana and cannabis referring to “cannabis” when referring to the products sold legally (to those 21 and over) from licensed cannabis businesses, but “marijuana” referring to the drug purchased outside of the regulated market or used by those under 21. Therefore, this document refers to “youth marijuana use” which remains illegal. As such, it will be referred to as “marijuana”.

Here is a link to Words Matter, a guide to utilizing preferred language when talking about addiction ii : https://www.drugabuse.gov/drug-topics/addiction-science/words-matter- preferred-language-talking-about-addiction

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