Enabling drug users to get help: Conference promotes harm reduction

“There’s often something that’s said, which is that people who are dead can’t recover.”

The idea that harm reduction is enabling drug use stems from not understanding what harm reduction truly is, said Scott Neufeld, assistant professor of community psychology at Brock University.

“A harm reduction approach, sure, I hope it is enabling people to receive some supports. I hope it’s enabling people to be able to take a few steps towards better health or wellness or support,” he said.

Neufeld was one of many presenters at the Thunder Bay Health Unit’s ninth annual harm reduction conference on Thursday.

The conference’s theme this year was “a practical way forward,” with opportunities for service providers to participate in hands-on workshops and expert-led sessions.

The day aimed to give participants, including frontline workers as well as management and policy-makers, tools and tactics to help transform their response to substance use.

“A harm reduction approach is really an approach that says ‘wherever somebody is at, I’m going to try and meet them there and see whatever we can do to get them to move the next step along the pathway towards better health,'” said Neufeld.

“I think l if we have these somewhat unreasonable expectations of people that are experiencing a lot of challenges with substance use, addiction, maybe mental health or other kinds of things. For many people, it’s too tall of an order to say you have to somehow figure out how to address all those things on your own before I will even start to help you,” he said.

“Harm reduction takes a different approach that’s really rooted in inclusivity and, I think, love and says: I will meet you where you’re at, even if that place is really tough, and I will try and help you take the next step, whatever that is for you.”

Kandace Belanger, manager of harm reduction and street outreach program at the Thunder Bay District Health Unit, said this is the biggest year yet for the conference.

“We are really focused on practical tools today, and some takeaways that people who are working in harm reduction can take with them and put in their back pocket and use them to support the people that they work with,” she said.

Belanger said there were some concurrent workshops in progress.

“One of them will be around supporting people who might be using methamphetamine. Providing people with tools to address structural stigma in their work.”

It’s been a very challenging year in harm reduction, she said.

“We’ve seen the loss of some services, some really vital services like our safe consumption site. And politically, there’s some challenges around harm reduction. I think, when we come together, it’s really about sticking together and understanding the work that we do is really important.

“Harm reduction has a very important role in the whole spectrum of substance use health in terms of keeping people safer, keeping them alive, so that they can experience better health outcomes,” she said.

Neufeld facilitated a talk and workshop on structural stigma towards people who use drugs.

“When we talk about stigma or discrimination towards people who use drugs, we often think about it in a more individual one-to-one way as negative attitudes or prejudice or discrimination that somebody might experience from another person,” he said.

“What I’m encouraging people to think a little bit more about is the way that negative or stigmatizing ideas about people who use drugs can often be more subtly baked into the policies or structures or even kind of environments of organizations that should be set up to support the needs of people who use drugs, but are often crafted in ways that unfortunately put a lot of barriers in the way of people accessing and receiving supports.” – tbnewswatch.com

article website here

Who is going to move into the shelter village once its constructed?  How are the lucky 80 going to be chosen?  Nobody has said what the process of choosing is.

I believe that these 80 small houses need to be used to encourage as many of the ‘unhoused’ in this city to get with the program.  The program being improving their life through education and job training.  People that are willing to put in the work to become a contributing member of society.  Financially independent.  A giver, not a taker.

Those people need to be identified and be given the opportunity to have one of the 80 small houses.  Seeing how the shelter village is supposed to be temporary, starting with a group that has the best chance of succeeding makes the most sense.

This will also give the others a chance to see that there is something to be gained by taking part in the program.  Improving ones lot in life through education and training.

There are lost causes amongst the ‘unhoused’ in this city. People that will never be more than they are now.  No matter the effort put in by the taxpaying public, the lost causes will always be just that.  I understand that there are groups that believe there is no such thing as a lost cause. Those groups also get their funding because of the lost causes, sooo their support of lost causes is not surprising.

Mentally-ill and addicts require hospital care.  I do not believe they are capable of living on their own.  I don’t.  I see many on the streets every day. There is no way they should ever be alone in any room or building.  Many should not even be out in public.

Soo, ust the shelter village as a hand up, not a hand out.  Quis quo pro.  Something for something.  Expect something from the occupants in return for the support.   Hold up the shelter village as something for other ‘unhoused’ to strive for.

Of course, this is only a pipe dream.  What will happen is that the shelter village will be populated by the worst of the worst.  It will end up being a costly shithole.  Nobody will ever leave.  Why would they?

In fact, the 80 is only a bigging.  There will be more.  Lots more.  Hard to argue with free everything with no strings attached. I may consider applying myself.

Taxes continue to rise. Food prices continue to rise.  Property maintenance is a pain. Utilities?  Don’t ask.  Just ditch it all and end up in one of those shelter villages.  All the financial problems of the world disappear.  Just sit back and relax. 24 hour security. Healthcare profession make house calls. I wouldn’t doubt that a cleaning service will also be included.  Maybe laundry as well.

Just wait for all the free stuff to show up. Ahhh.. Just like being in a resort.