Video: Impact of language around opioid use disorder a key topic at APNA

In this video, Karen Werder, PhD, PMHNP-BC, PHN, assistant professor at the Sonoma State University School of Nursing, discussed a presentation she gave at the American Psychiatric Nurses Association Annual Conference.

Werder focused specifically on the impact of language used to describe people with opioid use disorder, and ways to soften how we speak about the topic in the future.

“I wanted people to understand the depth and breadth of the opioid use disorder crisis, and I wanted them to understand how the language we use affects treatment outcomes, because it does,” Werder said.

Reference:

• Werder, Karen. Addressing Bias and Stigma in the Language We Use with Persons with Opioid Use Disorder. Presented at: American Psychiatric Nurses Association Annual Conference 2022; October 20-23, 2022; Long Beach, CA.