"Challenging America's Stigma: Embracing Drug Users as Equals"

Louise Vincent, a drug user herself, is advocating for a new approach to addiction care in the United States. She argues that the focus on law enforcement and drug abstinence has failed, and instead advocates for treating drug users with dignity and providing them with basic healthcare, access to clean needles, and affordable medical treatments for addiction. Vincent's grassroots efforts, such as the Urban Survivors Union, aim to humanize and bring drug users out of the shadows, similar to the fight for LGBTQ acceptance. However, there is a growing backlash against harm reduction strategies, with some politicians pushing for tougher drug laws. Vincent acknowledges that her vision of acceptance and care for drug users still has a long way to go.