Of all the hurdles people dealing with and recovering from addiction have to face, the most difficult is the stigma.

ThatB次元官网网址檚 what Jasmine, a harm reduction HIV and Hepatitis C outreach worker with AVIB次元官网网址檚 Campbell River office has discovered.

Jasmine, who did not want her last name used in this story, has a history of drug addiction and homelessness. Through her long difficult journey she found that the stigma and othering that people feel towards addicts is the most difficult thing to overcome.

In her experience, it is people who do the exact opposite and treat each other like human beings who make the real difference.

Jasmine started using drugs in high school, though at the time her use was more about partying and having a good time. Eventually, she ended up encountering heroin, which changed everything.

B次元官网网址淟ong story short, eventually me and heroin, our paths crossed and that was kind of like I found the one for me. It was the ultimate relief,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 was travelling a lot through the States and CanadaB次元官网网址� Eventually, I (found I) canB次元官网网址檛 dabble in a drug like opiates at all becauseB次元官网网址� it kind of locked me in place in Vancouver. I couldnB次元官网网址檛 travel because I would end up getting sick.B次元官网网址�

After a few years, Jasmine found herself living in a tent on one of the main streets of downtown Vancouver with winter fast approaching. At the time she lived with a partner, and her partnerB次元官网网址檚 family ended up tracking the pair down and moving them out east.

B次元官网网址淭he state we were in at the time, I didnB次元官网网址檛 have any ID, I had a dog, we couldnB次元官网网址檛 just jump on a plane or jump on a bus. His mother flew to Vancouver and rented a van and drove us to New Brunswick,B次元官网网址� she explained. B次元官网网址淭he woman was a trooper, because we used all the way across. I know it was so distressing for her, but we didnB次元官网网址檛 feel at the time that not doing that was an option.

B次元官网网址淲e ended up kicking it in a farm in Sussex, New Brunswick. It was wild.B次元官网网址�

Jasmine and her partner recovered at the farm, but recovery from opiates is one of the most difficult things a person can do. Eventually, her partnerB次元官网网址檚 mother brought them to the hospital.

B次元官网网址淭here was a doctor thereB次元官网网址� when I walked in the room he sat down and said B次元官网网址楯asmine itB次元官网网址檚 really nice to meet you. This is the best decision youB次元官网网址檝e made and IB次元官网网址檓 so looking forward to you becoming a part of my community,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 canB次元官网网址檛 tell youB次元官网网址� the emotions that that brought up, just having a doctor be kind and welcoming me to his community and like saying that he was looking forward to it.

B次元官网网址淎 click happened and this belief in my self kind of happened. I realized B次元官网网址極K I can be a part of the community, even the doctor wants me here.B次元官网网址� We all know doctors are seen as some of the leaders of the communityB次元官网网址� it has been 13 years and that is still something that brings up emotions in me to this day.B次元官网网址�

Jasmine stayed in Sussex for two years after kicking her habit, learning how to be a person again. Her partnerB次元官网网址檚 family had no judgments, and helped her learn certain social norms and rules. After a while she returned to B.C. and started building a life here again.

B次元官网网址淚t has been a long journey,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of emotional stuff you have to deal with. My belief is that stigma is by far the most damaging thing to people, especially while theyB次元官网网址檙e living it, while theyB次元官网网址檙e homeless, while theyB次元官网网址檙e using and even after. Afterwards you have a hard time connecting with people, and thatB次元官网网址檚 what you need.

B次元官网网址淵ou need the connection ultimately to really thrive, and its really difficult to connect with people because you know that thereB次元官网网址檚 a stigma to that.B次元官网网址�

After a few years of living in B.C., Jasmine got news that her partner with whom she had travelled to New Brunswick had died of an overdose. She became determined to be a part of the solution and started working with AVI, which works to break down barriers and stigma for people like Jasmine.

Through her work, Jasmine found a community that did not judge the life she used to live, and that built her confidence.

B次元官网网址淚 wouldnB次元官网网址檛 have told you this story three years ago,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 would have been absolutely terrified that you would have judged me, and now through these groups I found the empowerment of wanting to break through that wall of stigma more than being worried about being stigmatized.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 incredibly empowering to not see the life that I lived as a shameful part of my life, but just a part of my life. And also to be told that having the knowledge of that lifestyle is valuable, that is something that allows me to bring better understanding to the work I do now.B次元官网网址�

Since the pandemic started, Jasmine said her clients at AVI have reported feeling left behind. Things were closing, businesses were shutting down and services still have not come back to the place they were a year ago. While many people have been able to cope with the changes in some way, those most vulnerable members of the community were left out in the cold.

B次元官网网址淔or a lot of the people IB次元官网网址檝e worked with, part of what they were feeling is left behind,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淩each out to the people that you are connected to. Let them know that thatB次元官网网址檚 how you feel and have a conversation.B次元官网网址�

People who are living outside, living with addictions or are recovering from addictions are no less members of the community, and no less deserving of compassion.

B次元官网网址淐ompassion is so valuable. People donB次元官网网址檛 realize it. No matter what you say to somebody who is homeless or using drugs, itB次元官网网址檚 never going to be as bad as the way they feel about themselves. TheyB次元官网网址檙e being told little tidbits of that every day anyway,B次元官网网址� she added.

B次元官网网址淚 wish IB次元官网网址檇 known that being somebody who used drugs didnB次元官网网址檛 make me subhuman.B次元官网网址�

For more news from Vancouver Island and beyond delivered daily into your inbox, please