"Abuse" (as in gambling abuse) → gambling harm / gambling disorder

Stigma-preferred language

Definition

"Abuse" is both clinically obsolete and uniquely stigmatizing in addiction research; it reads as something the person did wrong.

Preferred phrasing

gambling harm · gambling disorder.

Source

Primary source for this whole section: https://www.recoveryanswers.org/addiction-ary/ Supporting: https://pttcnetwork.org/non-stigmatizing-language/ · https://www.recoveryanswers.org/research-post/person-first-language-heroin-use-disorder/

Cite this

Betttr. ""Abuse" (as in gambling abuse) → gambling harm / gambling disorder." The Gambling Recovery Glossary. https://betttr.net/glossary/abuse/ (accessed 2026-09-20).

Last updated: 2026-09-20.

Corrections: support@betttr.net