3Albany, 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Assemblymember Emily Gallagher’s proposal, Assembly Bill A2398, aims to eliminate what lawmakers call outdated and stigmatizing terminology embedded in multiple sections of state code, including the judiciary, mental hygiene, public health, and county laws.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 h

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