Ugh. Come on. Be part of the solution, not the problem. We should be promoting safe use and harm reduction education, not these bullshit blanket statements such

Ugh. Come on. Be part of the solution, not the problem. We should be promoting safe use and harm reduction education, not these bullshit blanket statements such as 'do not mess with opioids'/'say no to drugs', and stop using them quick. Otherwise the people who inevitably will/do use, only hear and have only heard, 'don't do it to start' or get ostracized instead of getting the help they need or the education they need to know when they are overdoing it or not in control any more. We also need more clinics and support for safely quitting or managing drugs and tools for it similar to what we have for tobacco. Shamefully, here in Canada, some of these clinics in Vancouver are getting shut down, rather than more of them popping up, during the worst opioid crisis this country has ever seen. These closures are a direct result of a 'don't ever do/touch drugs' policy and the stigma and ostracization that come with it. Speaking from experience...education is better than 'don't'. I have had friends who have died from using drugs, and I have many, many friends who are regular users but not abusers - pull an insane variety of different full-time jobs. (And well!) The huge difference between these two groups of people for me is education (for instance, preexisting mental health conditions that would be made worse by a particular substance and the knowledge to avoid it), and having a support system, etc.. It is fascinating and inspiring that someone has chosen to put themselves in the very vulnerable position of coming out about their personal use, and I believe the intention is to help remove the stigma around drug use, so education can be bettered. :) Edit: Maybe better to say 'Drugs can be extremely harmful and addictive. If you choose to use them, please be sure you are educated, safe, and have someone nearby.' In fact, that doesn't seem dissimilar to the surgeon general warnings on cigarette packs, anyway. What kind of warning labels will we see on cocaine, heroin, etc - in countries where its sale will inevitably be legalized? These are the kinds of statements we should be making rather than 'just stay away from opioids.'