It isn’t an insult. I don’t feel insulted by being called woke. I distribute a lot of harm reduction supplies and I get a lot of eye rolling, hard exhaling, shouldn’t they just take responsibility for themselvesing, I had hard times in my life tooing, etc. I am woke. Fuck you gonna do about it? Nazi wimps.

I feel insulted it is used in the name of bills designed to inhibit help to people in crisis. But I am (maybe) accidentally in a job that wasn’t meant to exist? I don’t seem to report to anybody? So I am going to do whatever I want until they fire me. And what I want to do is harm reduction and crisis intervention.

Edit: and since the Internet has maybe provided me with a soapbox, I will continue. You can seek help even if you aren’t homeless. It is better you do before that is even a possibility. If you feel substance use is diminishing your enjoyment of life, come for help.

I do understand hesitation. In some places, this costs money. Even in places these services are free, you feel shame. People are judging you. And — to be honest — a lot of healthcare providers are also judgemental. And I am currently in a small town of fewer than 2000 people. Your private business is maybe going to be everyone’s entertainment. Be strong. Once you do get into the mental health and substance use pipeline, we are mostly good and we are mostly there because we have big hearts yearning to help.

A lot of the reason I have opted to spend much of my time in the community is to overcome those barriers to access to help. Come say “hi”. I will say “hi” too. Maybe that is the first step. Worst case scenario is we were friendly to each other. Gross!

And if you are one of those skeptics who have said I am enabling substance users and let me know that opinion— even angrily — water under the bridge; you are not the first person experiencing substance related symptoms; we got you. Don’t let embarrassment stop you, please. Come back for help whenever you like. Seriously, I’m happy to help. I look forward to meeting you (again). And — if you don’t live near me — someone in your area is too.