"Challenging America's Perception: Embracing Drug Users as They Are"

Louise Vincent, a former drug user, has become a leading advocate for humanizing and helping people who use drugs amidst the devastating overdose crisis in the US. Vincent argues that the US focus on law enforcement and drug abstinence has failed, and instead advocates for a harm reduction approach that includes providing basic healthcare, access to clean needles, and affordable medical treatments for addiction. She has created the Urban Survivors Union, a space in North Carolina that offers services and care for active drug users, aiming to bring drug users out of the shadows and combat the stigma surrounding addiction. However, Vincent faces opposition from politicians who support tougher drug laws, and the road to acceptance and care for drug users in the US remains challenging.