DDF - meaning and definition
Alsodrug and disease freedisease and drug free
Definition
Short for "drug and disease free": a profile claim that the person does not use drugs and has no STIs. Health organisations regard the "disease free" part as stigmatising and unreliable.
At a glance
- Claims the person does not use drugs and has no STIs.
- Many STIs have no symptoms, so the claim is unreliable without recent testing.
- Calling people with an STI 'diseased' discourages testing and honest disclosure.
- A better approach is sharing when you were last tested and for what.
In detail
DDF is common in older personal ads and on some apps. The problem is that many STIs have no symptoms, so the only meaningful statement is when someone was last tested and for what. Framing people with an STI as "diseased" also discourages testing and honest disclosure.
A more useful exchange is: "I was tested last month for the usual panel; what about you?" and a conversation about condoms, PrEP or other prevention.
In a sentence
- Instead of asking if you're DDF, can we just talk about when we were last tested?
- His profile says DDF, but that doesn't tell me anything about recent testing.
Where the word comes from
DDF comes from classified personal ads and early online dating sites, where short codes were common.
Common questions
Why is DDF considered stigmatising?
Because it frames people with an STI as diseased or undesirable. STIs are common and treatable or manageable, and shame makes people less likely to test or disclose.
What should I say instead of DDF?
Something specific, such as 'tested last month for the usual panel, all negative', followed by a conversation about condoms, PrEP or other prevention. A sexual health clinic can advise on which tests suit you and how often.