Campus Construction Update

As part of our work to ensure the look of our campus matches the exceptional care you've come to expect, we're closing the corridor between the Moakley and Menino lobbies for approximately one month, starting on Saturday, Aug. 10. Thank you for your patience during this time.

Click here to learn more about our campus redesign. 

Addiction

Addiction

Noun

A primary, chronic, neurobiological disease with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestation. Addiction is characterized by behaviors that include:

  • Impaired control over drug use
  • Compulsive use
  • Continued use despite harm
  • Cravings

When referring to someone with an addiction, refrain from using “addict” and instead use “person with substance use disorder”. Please refer to the Grayken Center for Addiction at BMC for more information and resources on how to reduce stigma through the words we use.

Source

The Recovery Research Institute based out of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School

The Glossary for Culture Transformation is a living document to be revised on an annual basis.

Suggested Citation: Office of Equity, Vitality, and Inclusion, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, and Boston University Medical Group. Glossary for Culture Transformation. 2021.

For questions or suggestions, please email wordsmatter@bu.edu