To maximise our effectiveness for raising awareness about iatrogenic physical dependence, adverse effects, withdrawal syndromes and harms (associated with therapeutic use of benzodiazepines), it is advisable for to use the following language in our activism efforts:
- Iatrogenic/iatrogenesis (relating to illness caused by medical examination or treatment)
- Medically induced
- Dependence forming
- Prescribed dose/medication/drug dependence
- As prescribed/doctor-prescribed/
taken-as-directed - Therapeutic doses/use
- Benzodiazepines/BZDs /BZs
- (Doctor/Treatment) induced (dependence/harm/injury) etc.
- Benzodiazepine Associated Disability
- Damage/Neurotoxicity
- Brain and central nervous system changes/disruption
- Physical illness
- Public / Society problem (rather than “BZ community” problem)
Try to avoid words associated with substance abuse, like:
- Addiction / addicted / hooked / high
- Addictive
- Addicts, users, abusers, etc
- Misuse, abuse, use, etc
- Clean / sober / detox / overdose
- “Benzos” (even this shorthand term has been bastardized in some media): BZ / BZD / BDZ are acceptable medical abbreviations.
- Street drug nicknames for BZDs such as “zanny bars,” etc.
- (Our) Community (see below)
Understandably communities have been formed in the online support groups; however, viewed from an outside perspective the word “community” can also sound on the cultist side when re-framed or taken out of context, which can create an ‘us’ and ‘them’ viewpoint resulting in further separation from society, which is exactly what we want to avoid, as misguided social stigma has caused enough of this already. When making information public, words like public message / public announcement etc. are preferable because this is a public issue aimed at all society and it effects every member of society collectively, whether it be directly or indirectly (See Effects on Us All).
Further Reading
For more information on the importance of distinguishing between terminologies and word usage, please visit: