Can You Be a Functioning Heroin User? | High Society

Summary by Krater

This video explores the lives of functioning heroin users and drug experts who argue that heroin addiction is deeply rooted in social, economic, and class-based stigma. It concludes that drug decriminalization and de-stigmatization are necessary first steps to reducing harm and encouraging people to seek help.

From the video

Answers: What is it like to be a functioning heroin user?

• Functioning heroin users
• Heroin addiction stigma
• Harm reduction strategies
• Drug decriminalization
• Drug use in middle-class society

What it concludes

• Heroin addiction carries a heavy social and class-based stigma that discourages people from seeking help.
• Decriminalizing drugs and shifting toward harm reduction can encourage people to seek help sooner and reduce fatal harms.
• The majority of people who use heroin do not get addicted, similar to other substances like tobacco.