Shatter the Stigma social square (2)
person in recovery shatter the stigma

Shatter the stigma! 4D Recovery has worked for more than a decade to provide access to recovery services. However, limited and restrictive resources have prevented us from focusing on destigmatizing drug and alcohol use as an effort to get more people to seek treatment and recovery.  With possession and decriminalization of illicit drugs passed in Oregon in 2020 (Measure 110), it is critically important that new intervention models are developed to ensure we do not leave people who need care stranded to addiction.

Right now, support is integral to our work as the recovery landscape evolves. Our work strives to shatter the stigma, and the misperceptions that fuel it, to drive lasting change and fight for the specific needs of adolescents and young adults.

person in recovery shatter the stigma

Shatter the stigma! 4D Recovery has worked for more than a decade to provide access to recovery services. However, limited and restrictive resources have prevented us from focusing on destigmatizing drug and alcohol use as an effort to get more people to seek treatment and recovery.  With possession and decriminalization of illicit drugs passed in Oregon in 2020 (Measure 110), it is critically important that new intervention models are developed to ensure we do not leave people who need care stranded to addiction.

Right now, support is integral to our work as the recovery landscape evolves. Our work strives to shatter the stigma, and the misperceptions that fuel it, to drive lasting change and fight for the specific needs of adolescents and young adults.

CHANGE THE NARRATIVE

There is an urgent need to shatter the stigma surrounding addiction, which means changing our language and the way we speak about substance use. Recognizing the enormous challenge that stigma poses to our communities, 4D is committed to dismantling stigma within our community's language as a key strategy for tackling the addiction and overdose crisis.

One way to start is by revising the words and terms we use when discussing substance use disorder and the people affected by it. Research has proven that using “person-first” language is essential for stigma reduction, focusing on the person and not their condition. Research has shown that use of terms such as “substance abuser” is more likely to worsen stigma than use of person-first language such as “a person with a substance use disorder.”

DOS AND DONTS MOBILE (1)

CHANGE THE NARRATIVE

There is an urgent need to shatter the stigma surrounding addiction, which means changing our language and the way we speak about substance use. Recognizing the enormous challenge that stigma poses to our communities, 4D is committed to dismantling stigma within our community's language as a key strategy for tackling the addiction and overdose crisis.

One way to start is by revising the words and terms we use when discussing substance use disorder and the people affected by it. Research has proven that using “person-first” language is essential for stigma reduction, focusing on the person and not their condition. Research has shown that use of terms such as “substance abuser” is more likely to worsen stigma than use of person-first language such as “a person with a substance use disorder.”

DOS AND DONTS

STORIES TO SHATTER THE STIGMA

Alexis

Alexis

Even though at her lowest point, Alexis had lost her self-worth and given up on caring, recovery has helped her to find the balance and stability to get her son back full time and be the mother she's always wanted to be.

WATCH VIDEO

Alexis
Amee

Amee

Amee never thought that she was capable of being where she is today. Her primary focus in recovery was to get clean, get a home, get a car, and get her kids back, but it has opened the door to so much more. It opened the doors to freedom and healing.

WATCH VIDEO

Amee
Camille

Camille

Today Camille is grateful to have a life worth living and showing up for. Recovery has given them the power of choice back. Their message for those still struggling is that they are not alone, that they are loved, and that there is a place where they are understood.

Camille
Ebony

Ebony

Recovery has allowed Ebony to find her calling in a role that is supporting other young people in need. She is grateful to have discovered her inner super woman that allows her to show up for herself, her daughter, and her community. 

WATCH VIDEO

Ebony
Elton

Elton

Elton believes that much of the stigma surrounding addiction stems from people feeling personally betrayed and hurt. She says that each of us needs to work to find healing within ourselves to be able to look at the disease of addiction differently and come together as a community to combat it.

WATCH VIDEO

Elton
Gabrie

Gabrie

Gabrie remembers the nightmare of her substance use all too well. She is grateful that after years of struggling with incarceration, overdose, and near death experiences she found a way out. To the addict that’s still suffering, Gabrie wants you to know that recovery is possible. There is a community that is there for you, and believes in you. Don't give up before YOUR miracle happens!

Gabrie
Gunner

Gunner

At one point, Gunner couldn't imagine what it would feel like to not be broken. Recovery has finally given him the faith that his life has meaning and that he doesn't have to be defined by past trauma. Today Gunner has been put in a place to do amazing work to support others, and believes that the life of his dreams is being built around him.

WATCH VIDEO

Gunner
Mulu

Mulu

While struggling with his addiction, Mulu experienced stigma both externally and internally surrounding substance use and experiencing houselessness. Seeking support from his close friends and family was scary, but recovery has allowed him to make those connections stronger than ever. Today he sees his path forward is literally limitless in his recovery.

WATCH VIDEO

Mulu
Robert

Robert

One thing Robert wants people to know is that no matter what their lowest point is, no matter what it looks like, it doesn't have to define them. It doesn't do any good to continuously beat yourself up for past mistakes. He calls on people to focus on healing and finding the best path forward.

WATCH VIDEO

Robert
Ron

Ron

Ron's favorite aspect of recovery is being able to help individuals that have been cast out of society feel noticed and seen, and the opportunity to give back what was so freely given to him. He says that to be able to witness someone who’s been given up on finding healing and the support to change, find recovery, and build a life for themselves is a beautiful thing!

WATCH VIDEO

.

Ron
Sarah

Sarah

At her lowest point, Sarah believed that the person she was and the things she had done were unredeemable. Today she is able to use her lived recovery experience to give back to her community and lift up those still struggling. She knows that with support anyone can recover, because she's been through it herself. Now, she says, there are no limitations to her future growth. 

WATCH VIDEO

Sarah
Tarra

Tarra

Through recovery, Tarra has built the life she had always longed for. Once she came to the discovery that recovery was possible, her whole world opened up! She calls on those struggling to hold onto hope, and the belief that there is an entire beautiful world waiting for them on the other side. 

WATCH VIDEO

Tarra

STORIES TO SHATTER THE STIGMA

Alexis

ALEXIS

Even though at her lowest point, Alexis had lost her self-worth and given up on caring, recovery has helped her to find the balance and stability to get her son back full time and be the mother she always wanted to be.

WATCH VIDEO

Alexis
Amee

AMEE

Amee never thought that she was capable of being where she is today. Her primary focus in recovery was to get clean, get a home, get a car, and get her kids back, but it has opened the door to so much more. It opened the doors to freedom and healing.

WATCH VIDEO

Amee
Camille

CAMILLE

Today Camille is grateful to have a life worth living and showing up for. Recovery has given them the power of choice back. Their message for those still struggling is that they are not alone, that they are loved, and that there is a place where they are understood.

Camille
Ebony

EBONY

Recovery has allowed Ebony to find her calling in a role that is supporting other young people in need. She is grateful to have discovered her inner super woman that allows her to show up for herself, her daughter, and her community.

WATCH VIDEO

Ebony
Elton

ELTON

Elton believes that much of the stigma surrounding addiction stems from people feeling personally betrayed and hurt. She says that each of us needs to work to find healing within ourselves to be able to look at the disease of addiction differently and come together as a community to combat it.

WATCH VIDEO

Elton
Gabrie

GABRIE

Gabrie remembers the nightmare of her substance use all too well. She is grateful that after years of struggling with incarceration, overdose, and near death experiences she found a way out. To the addict that’s still suffering, Gabrie wants you to know that recovery is possible. There is a community that is there for you, and believes in you. Don't give up before YOUR miracle happens!

Gabrie
Gunner

GUNNER

At one point, Gunner couldn't imagine what it would feel like to not be broken. Recovery has finally given him the faith that his life has meaning and that he doesn't have to be defined by past trauma. Today Gunner has been put in a place to do amazing work to support others, and believes that the life of his dreams is being built around him.

WATCH VIDEO

Gunner
Mulu

MULU

While struggling with his addiction, Mulu experienced stigma both externally and internally surrounding substance use and experiencing houselessness. Seeking support from his close friends and family was scary, but recovery has allowed him to make those connections stronger than ever. Today he sees his path forward is literally limitless in his recovery.

WATCH VIDEO

Mulu
Robert

ROBERT

One thing Robert wants people to know is that no matter what their lowest point is, no matter what it looks like, it doesn't have to define them. It doesn't do any good to continuously beat yourself up for past mistakes. He calls on people to focus on healing and finding the best path forward.

WATCH VIDEO

Robert
Ron

RON

Ron's favorite aspect of recovery is being able to help individuals that have been cast out of society feel noticed and seen, and the opportunity to give back what was so freely given to him. He says that to be able to witness someone who’s been given up on finding healing and the support to change, find recovery, and build a life for themselves is a beautiful thing!

WATCH VIDEO

Ron
Sarah

SARAH

At her lowest point, Sarah believed that the person she was and the things she had done were unredeemable. Today she is able to use her lived recovery experience to give back to her community and lift up those still struggling. She knows that with support anyone can recover, because she's been through it herself. Now, she says, there are no limitations to her future growth. 

WATCH VIDEO

Sarah
Tarra

TARRA

Through recovery, Tarra has built the life she had always longed for. Once she came to the discovery that recovery was possible, her whole world opened up! She calls on those struggling to hold onto hope, and the belief that there is an entire beautiful world waiting for them on the other side. 

WATCH VIDEO

Tarra