I had no idea you were going through stuff like this Reija. Thank you for this incredibly well-written and comprehensive breakdown of the issues with drug-centered care & treatment here. I would recommend this to anyone who still stigmatizes drug-use or drug-users. I want to become a clinical counselor myself, and I pray that things change in the future. We must do better than this.
Hi eric, thanks for this considerate and thoughtful reply. we need allies in this work. people who don't use drugs, or take medications meant to treat drug dependencies, won't ever truly understand what is needed. but even just asking a person what they need/what they want/what they wish would happen could help us change the game. i can't believe how rarely healthcare workers ask such simple - yet impactful - questions. instead, it's like they think they should know the answers, and they make assumptions. why? because they went to school? because, like most of us, they fear being outed as an 'imposter'? maybe they fear losing respect.
the best advice i can give to you is to think of yourself as a subject matter expert in, for example, CBT exercises or EMDR therapy or motivational interviewing. this way, you can think about people who use drugs (aka your patients) as subject matter experts in their own right. this could help lower the power barrier, thereby improving your practice. because patients (especially those seeking help with a stigmatized condition) are usually too afraid to tell the complete truth about what's ailing them. by elevating them as more of a partner in their own care, you can demonstrate that you respect their authority and won't judge them. the more accuracy you can gather, the likelier you are to help them find the right treatment.
the healthcare workers can read my words and work if people like you share it on your socials :) also: check out my other newsletter (less personal, more geared towards drug use and drug policy education: http://wherestheharm.substack.com
thank you, charles. I am thrilled that you like it. I see that you are also a fan of Where's the Harm (WTH). Thanks for the pledge. I am encouraged by your incentive. it's nice to think my content is valuable to someone.
Yes! You're writing is great. My friend Mary Howe is a great leader here in the Bay Area of the Homeless Youth Alliance - one of the many who support causes you discuss around harm reduction :-). https://www.homelessyouthalliance.org/programs/
I had no idea you were going through stuff like this Reija. Thank you for this incredibly well-written and comprehensive breakdown of the issues with drug-centered care & treatment here. I would recommend this to anyone who still stigmatizes drug-use or drug-users. I want to become a clinical counselor myself, and I pray that things change in the future. We must do better than this.
Hi eric, thanks for this considerate and thoughtful reply. we need allies in this work. people who don't use drugs, or take medications meant to treat drug dependencies, won't ever truly understand what is needed. but even just asking a person what they need/what they want/what they wish would happen could help us change the game. i can't believe how rarely healthcare workers ask such simple - yet impactful - questions. instead, it's like they think they should know the answers, and they make assumptions. why? because they went to school? because, like most of us, they fear being outed as an 'imposter'? maybe they fear losing respect.
the best advice i can give to you is to think of yourself as a subject matter expert in, for example, CBT exercises or EMDR therapy or motivational interviewing. this way, you can think about people who use drugs (aka your patients) as subject matter experts in their own right. this could help lower the power barrier, thereby improving your practice. because patients (especially those seeking help with a stigmatized condition) are usually too afraid to tell the complete truth about what's ailing them. by elevating them as more of a partner in their own care, you can demonstrate that you respect their authority and won't judge them. the more accuracy you can gather, the likelier you are to help them find the right treatment.
That's great advice Reija, thank you. I think your are 110% right and I wish all health care workers could/would read your words. Take care.
the healthcare workers can read my words and work if people like you share it on your socials :) also: check out my other newsletter (less personal, more geared towards drug use and drug policy education: http://wherestheharm.substack.com
Great article, its as brutal here in Oakland and San Francisco. You raise a lot of important topics, thank you for continuing to create this content.
thank you, charles. I am thrilled that you like it. I see that you are also a fan of Where's the Harm (WTH). Thanks for the pledge. I am encouraged by your incentive. it's nice to think my content is valuable to someone.
Yes! You're writing is great. My friend Mary Howe is a great leader here in the Bay Area of the Homeless Youth Alliance - one of the many who support causes you discuss around harm reduction :-). https://www.homelessyouthalliance.org/programs/