I used drugs to find purpose and freedom. Today, I find freedom in love and purpose in sacrifice and service.
When people stop their judgement, then they’ll see the truth
Stigma and judgement have real and harmful consequences. Change starts with us, and how we see and treat others
Service restrictions related to substance use cause further trauma and harm to people who use drugs
People who use drugs have woken up from an overdose to find out that they no longer have a bed to sleep in for the night because they were service restricted for overdosing in the shelter.
Giving a voice to those at the centre: Thoughts and reflections from a person who uses drugs
I am still living it every day—the stigma of substance use. Life is a huge challenge.. The “day to day” that most of us take for granted.
Services and help for those who want it are too hard to access. The system isn’t designed for us
There are many people out there who want to get help but can’t.
COVID-19 is making the overdose crisis worse. I see it first hand
When you use drugs alone it’s a lot more dangerous because there’s no one there to help you if you overdose
The double standard between alcohol and drugs reveals the harmful nature of stigma
“Back in prohibition days for alcohol, folks were dying from homemade hooch. I wonder how many places in Canada serve alcohol now?”
Study: Opioid-Related Deaths in Ontario during COVID-19
Findings of this report broadly suggest a need for policies and programs designed to urgently address the increase in opioid mortality, such as access to harm reduction…and safer supply of drugs.
Montreal: Recommendations for change
“There [is] a problem in accessing data, [and] stigma is one of those obstacles in obtaining this data. The events that are experienced on the ground are in the fog. I see this as an obstacle to making good decisions.”
