‘Recover’ vs. ‘Reform’

Re “A Star Is Born: From Addict to Actor” in People in View, June 12 (referring to Thomas Gist as “the 47-year-old reformed alcoholic and drug addict . . . ): The word reformed implies that addictions are moral issues when actually they are classified and treated as disease. There are no “recovered” addicts either, as there are no “recovered” diabetics. There are, however, many “recovering” addicts who are not using chemicals, including alcohol.

MARGARET COTHRAN

Ridgecrest

The correct term, as stated in The Times’ style book, is, indeed, “recovering alcoholic.”