“Correct Use Doesn’t Equal Abuse” Is A Problematic Statement And I Need You To Stop Saying It.

No, you aren’t better than people with opioid use disorder. Instead, you’re perpetuating the stigma that harms you. Let me explain.

As a matter of grammar, the statement “correct use does not equal abuse” is unfalsifiably true.

Ok, so then how can a true statement also be problematic?

Enter, stigma.

A person may use such a statement as a form of self-advocacy. For example, this statement may come from a patient with chronic pain trying to make the argument that they deserve ethical and appropriate treatment with pain medications including opioids because they are person who has a history of using their drugs “correctly” and not “abusing” them.

On the surface, that’s a reasonable position. A patient with chronic pain might utilize this position to try to reassure a clinician that they aren’t going to take more than the prescribed amount of medications or otherwise “abuse” their medications such as to “get high.” That is a form of self advocacy to seek the ethical and appropriate care that they need and feel is appropriate for the management of their chronic medical conditions and pain.