Drug User Stigma
Do you think that drug users are unemployed, homeless, and with criminal records? Actually, persons with addiction include ALL demographics. In a new video, former Police Chief Mark Spawn discusses the true faces of addiction – persons of all ages, races, and social standing. Spawn examines the serious implications of someone being labelled a “drug addict.†He said, “When a person with addiction wants help, they may not feel able to ask for it due to shame and embarrassment from friends, family, and employers. It is counterproductive and insensitive to brand persons with addiction.†Chief Spawn continued, “We also have to understand that when a drug user wants to quit, they probably won’t be able to do it the first time. When a drug user has access to sterile hypodermic syringes, the risk of spreading infectious diseases through contaminated needles and sharing is reduced. As first responders, there is always a heightened concern about getting stuck with a needle – the police officer conducting a pat-down search, the EMT treating an unresponsive person, or the booking officer at a jail searching personal effects and clothing. The ramifications of needle sticks reach far beyond the drug user. There are serious, legitimate reasons why our society should be concerned about keeping drug users healthy.â€
Chief Spawn noted, “There are many things that we, as a society need to know about helping persons with addiction. This is about providing assistance to drug users – to empower them to stay healthy while they are using drugs, and to support them as they are trying to quit. By focusing on the health of persons who use drugs, we can better ensure their well-being, and the health and safety of their family, partners, and for first responders who encounter them.â€
Video here: https://youtu.be/IzXLKE3mVIM