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Debate over harm reduction approaches and personal experiences with addiction
0:59:11
ยท
81 sec
Council Member Marmorato challenges the harm reduction approach, advocating for abstinence-based methods and expressing concern about enabling drug use. Assistant Commissioner Linn-Walton responds by sharing personal experiences and explaining the rationale behind their approach to addiction treatment.
- Council Member Marmorato argues for a 'just stop doing drugs' approach
- Assistant Commissioner Linn-Walton shares her personal recovery story to illustrate the complexity of addiction
- The health department emphasizes the importance of engagement, dignity, and respect in helping individuals seek treatment and recovery
Kristy Marmorato
0:59:11
What happened to don't do drugs in that message?
0:59:14
I mean, it's it's not I'm not I'm not trying to be funny.
0:59:17
I mean, I've dealt with this.
0:59:18
I have friends and family that have major issues, and you have to just stop doing drugs.
0:59:24
I mean, just to, like, enable them is not really a key to success.
0:59:29
I mean, it's it's sad and it's devastating to see people's lives being torn apart.
0:59:34
And to think that to allow this around parks and schools and just, like, enabling this behavior is just it's not okay.
Rebecca Linn-Walton
0:59:41
And I can say that I'm sitting here today because I was given successful treatment decades ago.
Kristy Marmorato
0:59:46
Treatment, treatment.
Rebecca Linn-Walton
0:59:48
Yes.
0:59:48
But that's what programs do is they refer to treatment as well.
0:59:51
And so it is long and complicated and deeply deeply painful, but the reality is and that's what we're seeing in the opioid crisis that people often don't just stop using substances.
1:00:02
They don't want to be many of the people who are using substances.
1:00:06
They feel tremendous guilt and shame about it.
1:00:08
And so what we need to do is engage them in a way that is that has dignity and respect so that we can get them to the care they need to have the life they want.
1:00:17
That's why so many of the people working in SSPs have a history of substance use.
1:00:21
That's why so many of us in the field are here today and alive because we weren't told just stop and fix your life on your own.
1:00:29
We were told how to get support and get to a better place.