OPTIONS is one of the state’s strategies to reduce fatal and non-fatal drug-related overdoses in Maine. Liaisons provide judgment-free support and connect people who use drugs and those who love them with resources for harm reduction, treatment, and recovery.
“Stigma is a significant factor in many chronic health issues, but substance use disorders often have a strong emotional component. It is a condition that has been subjected to blame and shame for as long as it has existed,” he said. “One of the biggest barriers to someone getting help is their fear of discussing this aspect of their lives due to their negative experiences or responses of others. SUD (substance use disorder) is simply not viewed the same as other chronic health conditions. There is lots being done to address some of this, but there is a lot more to be done. On an individual level, I try my best to help people reframe their understanding of SUD within the context of other chronic health issues.”