Lives of Substance

According to Angelo (M, 35), his drinking caused issues with his partner and they eventually broke up. He’s since reduced his alcohol consumption and plans to seek professional support to stop drinking in the future. livesofsubstance.org/stories/angelo…

After a close call with a sniffer dog, Artemis (M, 28, works in education, cannabis and party drugs) educated himself about his legal rights if he is stopped and searched by police: livesofsubstance.org/topics/contact…

Hear how people who consume drugs manage the stigma they encounter in everyday life. livesofsubstance.org/topics/dealing…

To look after his well-being, Opal (45, alcohol) enjoys doing craft and going camping with his kids. livesofsubstance.org/stories/opal-a…

Jason (34, student) told his mother about his drug issues because being open and not ashamed is important to him. Find out how people who identify as experiencing dependence, addiction or a drug habit talk about stigma and shame: livesofsubstance.org/topics/dealing…

DruGS team member @gemma_nourse is presenting research from our project on hepatitis C treatment and cure at tomorrow's VSURF. Check out vitalvoicesonhepc.org to hear personal stories of hepatitis C from participants we interviewed for the project.

Some participants describe efforts they make to challenge #stigma and #discrimination. Some say they discuss #hepatitisC openly to counter stigmatising misconceptions or encourage others affected by it not to feel embarrassed or ashamed. vitalvoicesonhepc.org/topics/dealing…

Simone describes an occasion when her friend Laura #overdosed at her house. Simone injected her with #naloxone and called an ambulance. The #paramedics gave her three more shots of naloxone, and Laura recovered. overdoselifesavers.org/stories/simone…

Louise (19) smokes cannabis daily, organising it around her work and studies. At the request of her parents, she saw a drug counsellor briefly but didn’t find it helpful. At the time of interview, she was ‘on a break’ from smoking. Hear from Louise at: livesofsubstance.org/stories/louise…

Scarlett (29, ice) and others explains how they look after their health and well-being alongside regular licit and illicit drug consumption: livesofsubstance.org/topics/general…

For Brad (M, 50, unemployed, speed) taking speed with friends promotes a sense of togetherness, or as he puts it, ‘communion’. livesofsubstance.org/topics/everyda…

When Jack (38, works in retail) experienced a relationship breakup and told his GP he felt he needed medication for anxiety and insomnia, he was, he says, dismissed as 'doctor shopping'. Read more on our website: livesofsubstance.org/stories/jack-h…

Emma (42) started drinking in her teens and by her mid-20s had a ‘serious problem’ with alcohol. She’s been through several kinds of treatment, including AA, detox, and residential treatment. Find out how Emma’s relation to alcohol changed over time: livesofsubstance.org/stories/emma-a…

While most of the people interviewed for this website have not had contact with the criminal justice system, those who have describe experiences of diversion programs, policing, discrimination and the need for drug law reform, among other important issues. livesofsubstance.org/topics/contact…

Sana (F, 71, experience with new treatment [#DAAs]) explains that she may have acquired #hepatitisC while still living in India, during a medical procedure for an arm injury. Read more of Sana's story here: vitalvoicesonhepc.org/stories/sanas-…

For James (M, 56, experience with old [interferon-based] treatment), diagnosis wasn't a 'huge life-changer', because he didn't see it as an immediate problem. vitalvoicesonhepc.org/stories/james-…