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

That害羞草研究所檚 what Jasmine, a harm reduction HIV and Hepatitis C outreach worker with AVI害羞草研究所檚 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.

害羞草研究所淟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,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淚 was travelling a lot through the States and Canada害羞草研究所� Eventually, I (found I) can害羞草研究所檛 dabble in a drug like opiates at all because害羞草研究所� it kind of locked me in place in Vancouver. I couldn害羞草研究所檛 travel because I would end up getting sick.害羞草研究所�

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 partner害羞草研究所檚 family ended up tracking the pair down and moving them out east.

害羞草研究所淭he state we were in at the time, I didn害羞草研究所檛 have any ID, I had a dog, we couldn害羞草研究所檛 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,害羞草研究所� she explained. 害羞草研究所淭he woman was a trooper, because we used all the way across. I know it was so distressing for her, but we didn害羞草研究所檛 feel at the time that not doing that was an option.

害羞草研究所淲e ended up kicking it in a farm in Sussex, New Brunswick. It was wild.害羞草研究所�

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 partner害羞草研究所檚 mother brought them to the hospital.

害羞草研究所淭here was a doctor there害羞草研究所� when I walked in the room he sat down and said 害羞草研究所楯asmine it害羞草研究所檚 really nice to meet you. This is the best decision you害羞草研究所檝e made and I害羞草研究所檓 so looking forward to you becoming a part of my community,害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淚 can害羞草研究所檛 tell you害羞草研究所� 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.

害羞草研究所淎 click happened and this belief in my self kind of happened. I realized 害羞草研究所極K I can be a part of the community, even the doctor wants me here.害羞草研究所� We all know doctors are seen as some of the leaders of the community害羞草研究所� it has been 13 years and that is still something that brings up emotions in me to this day.害羞草研究所�

Jasmine stayed in Sussex for two years after kicking her habit, learning how to be a person again. Her partner害羞草研究所檚 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.

害羞草研究所淚t has been a long journey,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 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 they害羞草研究所檙e living it, while they害羞草研究所檙e homeless, while they害羞草研究所檙e using and even after. Afterwards you have a hard time connecting with people, and that害羞草研究所檚 what you need.

害羞草研究所淵ou need the connection ultimately to really thrive, and its really difficult to connect with people because you know that there害羞草研究所檚 a stigma to that.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所淚 wouldn害羞草研究所檛 have told you this story three years ago,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淚 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.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 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.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所淔or a lot of the people I害羞草研究所檝e worked with, part of what they were feeling is left behind,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淩each out to the people that you are connected to. Let them know that that害羞草研究所檚 how you feel and have a conversation.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所淐ompassion is so valuable. People don害羞草研究所檛 realize it. No matter what you say to somebody who is homeless or using drugs, it害羞草研究所檚 never going to be as bad as the way they feel about themselves. They害羞草研究所檙e being told little tidbits of that every day anyway,害羞草研究所� she added.

害羞草研究所淚 wish I害羞草研究所檇 known that being somebody who used drugs didn害羞草研究所檛 make me subhuman.害羞草研究所�

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