Thread by @BenLevenson

Want a feel for how extensive, entrenched and structured the hatred in America is for our tens of millions of drug users? Take this #ThoughtExperiment with me....

#Stigma #PWUD #PWID #DrugUse #HumanRights #PublicHealth
#HarmReduction #NormalizeHR #SafeSupply #SCS #SIF

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IMAGINE for a moment that you woke up tomorrow to the news that the entire retail #alcohol supply in the #US was randomly contaminated with deadly levels of #fentanyl. A one ounce shot could put you into respiratory arrest in 120 seconds, quickly followed by cardiac arrest.

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The proper administration of #NARCAN within minutes or #RescueBreathing is your only hope for survival; #911 and #EMS can’t get there that fast.

Now IMAGINE for a moment what the governmental and civil society response would be to this news...

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Authorities would immediately #interdict/#confiscate/#test and destroy billions of gallons of alcohol. We would immediately launch a sophisticated investigation to determine and disrupt wherever the contamination was occurring.

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We would inundate society with free #FentanylTestStrips, locating them on every bar in #America and making them available for free on-demand from multiple sources and everywhere alcohol is purchased or consumed.

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#Intranasal & injection NARCAN & all related supplies, including syringes, would permeate society. #PSA’s & other educational content on identifying signs of fentanyl #overdose & the effective use of Narcan would appear on TV, online, in print and in your mailbox ASAP.

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We would immediately stand-up SAFE SUPPLY liquor stores full of certified fentanyl-free alcohol. A special SEAL would be developed to indicate fentanyl-free bottles.

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#SafeConsumptionSites (Bars) would be ID’d/promoted where you are assured to have NARCAN-trained #bartenders and waitstaff, test strips and a bottle supply Gov’t certified as SAFE.

You would be welcomed to turn in your non-certified liquor for free #SafeSupply.

8/

We would also teach drinkers how to more safely USE alcohol which tests positive for fentanyl...like taking tester sips, etc.

This is all #HARMREDUCTION and this thought experiment shows how deeply the #DrugWar has caused us to rationalize hatred for people who use drugs.

9/

There’s a national emergency yet our inaction show how structured this hatred is. Our policies essentially say, “we don’t care that the #DrugSupply it’s poisoned. We don’t really care if American’s die.”

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Are Canada/Europe’s safe supply policies really sooo outlandish or is it us? Aren’t we wrong? Aren’t we the problem? Aren’t we conditioned to have disproportionate disdain for people who use drugs other than the drug called alcohol?

Thank you.

@threadreaderapp unroll please