
The Opioid Crisis: Addiction and Emotion
In light of the rapid spread of the Opioid Epidemic across North America, I've been thinking about the relationship between substance use, trauma and systemic oppression. Addictions (chemical or otherwise), have a direct correlation to seeking comfort, solace or relief from emotional pain and difficulty. Think about coffee or cigarettes – these substances provide us with energy, a moment to ourselves or a sense of relaxation. As humans, we all experience stressful and traumat