Impact of Substance Use Terminology on MSW Students: A Randomized Vignette Study

Purpose Despite recognizing substance use-related stigma as a potential primary obstacle to treatment engagement, there is limited evidence investigating the nuanced intersection of stigma with master's level social work (MSW) education. Method We randomly assigned 322 MSW students to read one of two vignettes differing only in terminology describing a character's substance use condition (“substance use disorder” vs. “substance abuser”). Two Likert scales measured attitudes toward punishment and personal comfort. Results Students exposed to less stigmatizing language perceived lower social threat in individuals with SUD, with no significant difference in punitive attitudes. Discussion Findings reveal that language used by future social workers affects attitudes toward substance use. Terms like “substance use disorder” reduce perceptions of social threat, highlighting the need to educate MSW students on stigma-reducing language. This may foster more empathetic, professional practice. Further research should explore additional methods for reducing stigmatizing attitudes in social work education.