"Dirty" → currently gambling / experiencing a recurrence

Stigma-preferred language

Definition

Same problem, sharper. There is no clinical content in it at all.

Preferred phrasing

currently gambling · has had a recurrence.

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. ""Dirty" → currently gambling / experiencing a recurrence." The Gambling Recovery Glossary. https://betttr.net/glossary/dirty/ (accessed 2026-09-20).

Last updated: 2026-09-20.

Corrections: support@betttr.net