“I stopped doing dangerous drugs in a dangerous fashion the first time my drug use was treated as a means to cope, a health issue—and was being treated as such—rather than a crime.”
We are more than you think we are
We are beautiful, loving, caring, worthy and hopeful souls who deserve a life to live.
A War on Drugs or a War on People?
Why is a safe supply of drugs that keeps people alive and safe, determined by the morals and perspectives of the public?
Watching a snowflake melt
Seeing substance use as a moral failing doesn’t help. It makes you feel stigma and shame, which makes it harder to change.
The minute I was labelled…I became a case file
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.