- Please use “person first” language (e.g. “person/patient/individual with alcohol use disorder,” rather than “alcoholic”). “Addict” and “alcoholic,” while popular among some patients and the lay public, can be stigmatizing, dehumanizing, and they do not reflect the very human condition of addiction. Patients are not “addicts” or “alcoholics” but instead are people or persons with medical illnesses defined by consensus-driven medical terms such as “alcohol use disorder,” “opioid use disorder,” etc. 

- Do not use the word “abuse” in reference to substance use unless referring to a specific diagnosis in older versions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (e.g., DSM-IV). Similarly, do not use the word “abuser.” “Use” is often the appropriate replacement for “abuse.” Instead of “substance abuse treatment” use “substance use disorder treatment” or “addiction treatment.” 

- Preferred terms for the disease include substance use disorder, alcohol use disorder, drug use disorder, and addiction (when used as defined by American Society of Addiction Medicine). Use of terms in other diagnostic classification systems is acceptable provided the terms are used as defined. Examples might include “dependence” when referring to DSM-IV or International Classification of Diseases (ICD) diagnoses, or the ICD diagnosis harmful use. 

- Avoid “medication-assisted” unless referring to specific programs with those names. Medication is a treatment, so it might be called “medication treatment,” “opioid agonist treatment,” or just simply “treatment with buprenorphine” or “treatment with methadone.” Similarly, avoid “substitution therapy” or “replacement therapy.” “Substitution” is not a correct characterization of medication treatment (for example, opioid agonist treatment does not generally produce euphoria or short-lived increases in blood opioid levels). 

- Avoid stigmatizing language. Do not use “dirty” or “clean” urine or test results, use instead “positive” or “negative” urine or “urine positive for cocaine,” or “cocaine detected,” etc. Do not use “addict, alcoholic, drunk, pothead, crackhead, etc.” Instead use “patient with [insert substance] use disorder.” Do not use “frequent flyer” or “recidivist” instead use “patient with multiple relapses.” Avoid stating that the patient failed treatment. Instead note that the treatment failed or was not efficacious or effective. 

Individuals giving presentations at CE/CME activities should follow these guidelines so that materials are evidence-based, objective and balanced: 

- Presentations must be free of commercial bias for or against any product, company, service, or provider. 

- Presentations must give a balanced view of therapeutic options. Faculty use of generic names will contribute to this impartiality. If trade names are used, those of several companies should be used rather than only that of a single supporting company. 

- Presentations that include commercial products must present objective information about those products, based on scientific methods generally accepted in the medical and therapeutic community. 

- It is the responsibility of the faculty presenter to obtain written permission for print inclusion of material that is under copyright protection. 

- Promotion of any materials, publications/books, services, or organizations that are directly related to or affiliated with the faculty is prohibited in all educational classrooms. 

In order to comply with national and provincial standards and accreditation guidelines governing the relationships between industry and educational and professional organizations, it is necessary for all CE/CME presenters to be familiar with current disclosure policy and procedures: 

- Faculty must disclose any affiliations with commercial interests. Commercial interest is any entity producing, marketing, re-selling, or distributing health care goods or services consumed by, or used on, patients. The ACCME does not consider providers of clinical service directly to patients to be commercial interests – unless the provider of clinical service is owned, or controlled by, an ACCME-defined commercial interest. 

- All presenters at CE/CME events are asked to fill out the disclosure form upon entering your submission. 

- At the beginning of your presentation, (i.e., slide #2), please provide a disclosure statement or use the slide template that will be provided by HMP Education in an email. If you are not using slides, please make an announcement of any conflicts. 

- Educational material (slides, handouts, etc.) cannot include commercial company and product logos. 

- Limit the amount of information on each slide. Small font sizes and too much information on any one slide make duplication difficult. 

- Organization logos may be included on the first slide only. The first slide is not considered “educational.” 

Handouts are highly valued by participants because they reinforce and clarify verbal information and aid recall. All handouts/resources will need to be printed in advance by the presenter. Some things to consider when preparing handouts: 

- No commercial company and/or products on handouts. 

- Point form is more effective than paragraphs. 

- Include 3 key messages on the last slide or portion of your handout. 

- Copyright guidelines apply to all educational materials. HMP Education reserves the right to edit material that will contravene copyright. 

- Any handouts or resources for your presentation can be uploaded through your online submission.