I’ve been a recovered alcoholic/addict for many moons
now having surrendered on January 7, 2005. When I first got sober I was dead set
against any type of harm reduction. I was solely focused on keeping myself
sober. Since then my mind has opened to certain types of harm reduction.
I’ve worked for a couple of street outreach programs
over the years and handed out clean needles, crack/meth pipes, condoms and Naloxone
kits. I see the need for these types of harm reduction as they keep people from
contracting deadly or life altering diseases. I always say that one day an
active addict may decide they want to get sober, and because they used these
safe supplies, they don’t have the challenge of battling a disease on top of
the very challenging journey of becoming sober – and eventually recovered.
While in support of the above mentioned harm reduction
there are certain ones I’m dead set against. I’ve written a few blogs about how
methadone is terrible stating that it’s just a money maker for doctors (who I’ve
had tell clients, who wanted to wean off, that it would not be good for them
and refused to help) as well as being harder to get off then heroin. I also
believe that a big part of recovery is freedom – freedom to go and do what you
want (not drinking/using of course). Having to go to a pharmacy once a day, or
week, to get a drink hardly says freedom. Plus, you continue to receive
methadone even if you continue to use opioids and/or other mind altering
substances. A substitute for methadone is Suboxone. Before someone starts this
they have to go 24 hours without anything – an uncomfortable withdrawal occurs.
It’s this type of uncomfortableness that may lead someone to have a moment of
clarity. You can also wean off of Suboxone far easier than Methadone.
I recently learned that there is a “harm reduction”
program in Toronto, Ontario where workers teach people how to inject drugs. Why
not go all the way and inject the heroin, etc. for the person? This is like
trying to help an alcoholic by pouring whisky down their throat. For someone to
finally decide to get sober they need to have a moment of clarity which is
usually due to some sort of physical, emotional and or spiritual pain. By showing
them how to inject a chance at feeling this type of pain is taken away.
Taking away any type of pain or uncomfortableness is not
harm reduction but clearly crossing over that fine line of help to enabling.
Enabling someone whether it be in addiction, stagnation, etc. is never a
healthy thing.
Dave the Dude
