"Failed treatment" / "non-compliant" → treatment did not work for them / did not continue treatment

Stigma-preferred language

Definition

Puts the failure on the patient rather than on the fit of the service, which is a documented barrier to people returning after a recurrence.

Preferred phrasing

treatment was not effective for them · chose not to continue.

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. ""Failed treatment" / "non-compliant" → treatment did not work for them / did not continue treatment." The Gambling Recovery Glossary. https://betttr.net/glossary/failed-treatment-non-compliant/ (accessed 2026-09-20).

Last updated: 2026-09-20.

Corrections: support@betttr.net