By trading punitive measures for compassion, the harm reduction approach preserves the dignity & autonomy of people who use drugs (PWUD) and weaves a stronger, healthier fabric for society.
I understand the idea behind using phrases like "people who use drugs" rather than "drug users." There has long been a tendency in our judgemental, Puritan society to treat those people as subhuman. Calling them "people who use drugs" is putting the person first, making it more difficult to see them as less human--at least in theory.
But when the phrase is shortened to "PWUD," aren't we essentially back to where we started? Where's the humanity in an acronym?
Plus, it's confusing.
We may as well just go back to calling them "drug users."
I understand the idea behind using phrases like "people who use drugs" rather than "drug users." There has long been a tendency in our judgemental, Puritan society to treat those people as subhuman. Calling them "people who use drugs" is putting the person first, making it more difficult to see them as less human--at least in theory.
But when the phrase is shortened to "PWUD," aren't we essentially back to where we started? Where's the humanity in an acronym?
Plus, it's confusing.
We may as well just go back to calling them "drug users."