Albany, NY – A bill introduced in the New York State Assembly would replace the terms “addict” and “narcotic addict” in state law with the modern, person-centered phrase “person with substance use disorder.”
Assemblymember Emily Gallagher’s proposal, Assembly Bill A2398, aims to eliminate what lawmakers call outdated and stigmatizing terminology embedded in multiple sections of state code, including the judiciary, mental hygiene, public health, and county laws.
The measure reflects a growing national effort to use clinical, nonjudgmental language when referring to individuals affected by substance use disorders.
Bill targets stigma in legal terminology
Gallagher’s bill would update dozens of statutory references dating back to the 1970s, when New York’s laws were written during the height of the nation’s so-called “war on drugs.” The term “addict,” she noted, entered state code in 1972—just before the enactment of the Rockefeller Drug Laws that imposed some of the country’s harshest penalties for drug offenses.
Those laws, and the language surrounding them, have long been criticized for criminalizing addiction rather than treating it as a public health issue. The proposed amendments would align state statutes with modern understanding of substance use disorder as a medical condition rather than a moral failing.
Aligning law with public health principles
Under the legislation, the phrase “person with substance use disorder” or “person with a substance use disorder” would replace every instance of “addict” or “addicts” across the affected laws. The bill also formally redefines the term within state statute to ensure consistency.
Supporters say the measure complements broader state initiatives to expand addiction treatment, reduce overdose deaths, and hold pharmaceutical companies accountable for their role in the opioid crisis.
Part of a larger shift in language and policy
Advocates argue that language reform is an essential component of dismantling stigma and encouraging people to seek help. The bill follows national trends among medical associations and federal agencies, which have moved toward “person-first” terminology in clinical and policy settings.
Previous versions of the measure were introduced in 2022 and 2023 but did not advance beyond committee. Lawmakers are renewing the effort amid heightened focus on recovery-oriented legislation and opioid settlement investments statewide.
The proposal carries no fiscal impact on state or local governments and would take effect immediately upon becoming law.
Key Points
- The bill replaces “addict” with “person with substance use disorder” throughout New York law.
- It seeks to reduce stigma and align legal language with modern medical standards.
- The measure has no fiscal impact and would take effect immediately.
