I am signing this petition today to reduce the stigma of persons with substance use disorder and persons in recovery.

For far too long, people living with substance use disorder and people in recovery have been discriminated against due to stigmatizing language. Some of this language still exists in the state laws in South Carolina.

The language must change to reduce the stigma. This petition is to rally support around a bill that would establish the preferred manner of referring to persons affected by addictive disorders and other terms related to such persons in South Carolina by replacing it with person centered language.

​Some examples of preferred - person centered language to include in SC laws when referring to this population include:
​“persons with addictive disorders” “person with an addictive disorder,” “person with an addictive disorder related to gambling” and “person with substance use disorder" and "person in recovery."​

It is time we change that we reduce the stigma by using person centered language when referencing this population in SC state statutes.