At Royal Life Centers, we are the hosts, extending an open invitation to the individuals who reach out to us for help. As such, we regard the individuals who stay with us to receive our services as our guests.
Although most treatment providers refer to the individuals in their care as “clients” or “patients”, we see you as a guest from the moment you walk through our doors. We then take on the responsibility of helping you throughout your stay, making sure your accommodations are up to par, and being an honest and open guide to you during your recovery journey. You are a guest, and it is a privilege to host you. You are not only welcomed into Royal Life Centers, you become an integral player in the changes to come during your stay. As our guests, we want you to feel comfortable, cared for, and consistent.
It is imperative as Royal Life Centers staff that we treat all of our guests equally with the same respectful behavior and stigma-reducing actions to promote open communication and mutual respect during their time in our care:
With all of this being said, it is also important to note that the guests at Royal Life Centers are seen as equals. Royal Life Centers staff treat our guests with the utmost respect and consideration. We work to guarantee that each guest feels secure and always position ourselves in a way that allows us to immediately be at their service if needed. One of the ways our staff members at Royal Life Centers integrate a sense of compassion and sympathy within our programs is by using guest-centric language.
We understand the importance of words— the things we say have the power to impact the way that others feel. We choose our words carefully because words can be powerful, and we prefer to speak in a language that shows positivity and intention. While words can heal and generate growth, they can also hurt and reduce someone’s motivation. Our staff acknowledges that the guest-centric treatment of our guests extends beyond the programs and services and into the way that we address and speak to our guests.
In fact, a lot of people want to be supportive and understanding of their loved one’s situations. Unfortunately, the stigma surrounding substance use disorders is integrated into western society, so most of us have never observed a positive example illustrating respectful, and non-judgmental language that benefits those in the process of healing or finding help.
Guest-centric language, also known as person-first language (PFL), places the person before the disability, effectively describing what the person has, not what the person is. Royal Life Centers staff members use person-first language to emphasize each guest’s individuality, equality, and dignity.
When talking about someone who has a substance use disorder, person-first phrases provide consistent, objective terminology to avoid simplifications or labels. Instead of the typical blame language surrounding addiction, “they’re an addict,” PFL reframes the statement as “person with a substance use disorder.”
For this reason, person-first language takes the accusatory vernacular often associated with addiction that identifies a person solely on their disability or illness.
The phrase “addict” is hurtful, outdated, and approaches the subject with a holier-than-thou attitude. Granted, most people who use these passé terms simply lack the sensitivity education that assists in communication, as it is neglected in most media and schooling systems. In fact, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) released a thought-provoking study in 1999 detailing the harmful consequences of the term “patients” in addiction treatment settings.
Since our inception, Royal Life Centers has always vowed to treat our guests as individuals. We have never used the term patient, nor do we support any language that can be used in a demeaning manner. As a major treatment network, we see our responsibility in helping to rewrite the standards and common knowledge surrounding addiction, making addiction education more prominent and information better access to those who need it. We see the first way to start is how we talk about addiction. The nonprofit organization Shatterproof has dedicated its resources to reversing the Addiction Crisis in the U.S. Shatterproof believes that the revolutionization of addiction prevention, treatment, recovery, and advocacy can be made possible through the restructuring of “the country’s consciousness” with a focus on ending the stigma surrounding substance use disorders.
Deleting terms such as “addict,” “alcoholic,” “junkie,” and “druggie” and replacing them with person-first language such as “a person with a SUD” can decrease the inherent judgment, blame, and disgust many American’s associates with addiction. The past and current environment surrounding substance use disorders have trained the general public— and some clinicians— to respond to addiction with punishment over treatment.
Whether we like it or not, words shape how we view people and by extension how we treat them. In order to help people with substance use disorders, we must change the way we speak about them and to them. This is why guest-centric language and treating our guests with respect is one of the most important values to all of us at Royal Life Centers.
If you or a loved one might have a substance use disorder, please give us a call to see how we can help. We treat a range of substance abuse issues safely and effectively. Our team is available 24/7 at (877)-732-6837 or here to address your concerns and answer any questions you may have.
At Royal Life Centers, we are dedicated to providing quality care, unmatched standards, and only the best practices. Reach out to us today, our team of addiction specialists make themselves available to take your call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Because We Care.