Opioid Awareness

Opioid Awareness

The information below has been collected from www.canada.ca/opioids.

How you can help. A small change can help reduce the cycle of stigma

Stigma around substance use can prevent people from getting the help that they need. You can help by:

Listening with compassion and without judgment, so a person who uses drugs feels heard and understood

Speaking up when someone is being treated disrespectfully because of their substance use; and

Being kind with the words you use. Words Matter. Use people first language.

  • Instead of “junkie” use “a person who uses drugs”
  • Instead of “addict” use “people who have used drugs”
  • Instead of “drug abuse” use “substance use”