Dear Editor,
Re: “Health crises not all equal,” Voices, April 16.
Kudos to you for your recent opinion piece “Health crises not equal.”
Sadly, I believe you are correct in stating that our other health crisis (opioid overdose deaths) has not received anywhere near the attention it deserves due largely to the moral judgment that holds those with substance use disorders in low esteem.
Ironically, I observe that you use the word “addict” in your article despite noting the lack of sympathy directed to these individuals. I suggest to you that this term does nothing to diminish the stigma attached to those with substance use disorders (who are people from all walks of life, incidentally).
We’ve made great strides in eliminating derogatory and demeaning terms from our public discourse (e.g. illiterate, cripple) as they tend to convey an image of pitiable creatures who are somehow less worthy than the rest of us. “Addict” is now regarded as one of those stigmatizing terms in that it defines a person by the affliction and carries with it an association of blame and criminal activity.
Most people dealing with substance use disorders are either “regular people” like you and me or at-risk individuals who have endured unspeakable trauma in their lives. As such, they are deserving of our respect and empathy and yes, it is truly a shame that the public health crisis resulting in so many deaths in this population has not prompted more dramatic action from government.
Thora Gislason
RICHMOND
