As B.C. continues to confront the worsening overdose crisis, one user questions why politicians continue to treat them like nothing more than statistics.

Nathan Watts, a member of the Tseshaht First Nation near Port Alberni, said he含羞草研究社檚 never seen government officials joined by actual users when they talk about addiction and overdose, so he wanted to share his story.

Watts, 42, is trying to reconcile with his past self. As a early teen, he started hanging with the wrong crowd and eventually found himself in a gang. It was in those adolescent years that his using began and he became addicted to substances at 15. Thinking he was being given cocaine, Watts said he was really doing heroin, fentanyl and more.

He含羞草研究社檚 tried to leave that life behind and better himself, but has never been able to fully shake the grip that drugs have on him and still relapses by drinking and using crystal meth.

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含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 hard to reach out to people. Us addicts are constantly being shamed on social media,含羞草研究社� Watts said. 含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 the shame that makes us want to use alone and get away from society.含羞草研究社�

When he lost his younger sister to an overdose last year, it was an eye opener and a push to get help.

含羞草研究社淚 had to see my sister dead to actually change, it含羞草研究社檚 really hard,含羞草研究社� he said, adding that through his recovery efforts, he含羞草研究社檚 hoping to prevent the trauma his family endured then.

含羞草研究社淚 never want to put them through that pain. I含羞草研究社檝e been through a lot of battles because of my addiction, I also hurt a lot of people, I regret that.含羞草研究社�

After getting treatment last summer, he relapsed as soon as he got home.

Karen Urbanoski, a researcher with the University of Victoria-based Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, shed further light on the subject.

含羞草研究社淪tigma and trauma tend to make the experiences worse and keep people from getting the supports that they need,含羞草研究社� she said. 含羞草研究社淭here含羞草研究社檚 a lot of hate for people who use drugs.含羞草研究社�

Watts acknowledged that scenario.

含羞草研究社淚 know I含羞草研究社檓 an addict and I admit I含羞草研究社檓 an addict. We have to stop judging each other.含羞草研究社� He quoted a phrase often used in recovery fields: 含羞草研究社淗urt people, hurt people.含羞草研究社�

Urbanoski expanded on that thought, noting that substance users commonly judge themselves harshly, even more than others do.

含羞草研究社淭hey含羞草研究社檙e experiencing that internally and hating themselves, at the same time that everything seems to be going wrong, and that kind of situation just perpetuates the drug use,含羞草研究社� she said. 含羞草研究社淭here isn含羞草研究社檛 one (type of treatment) that含羞草研究社檚 going to work for everyone, and unfortunately if people try something and it doesn含羞草研究社檛 work, they blame themselves. The reality is it含羞草研究社檚 likely more accurate to say that wasn含羞草研究社檛 the correct path for them.含羞草研究社�

These days, Watts finds solace in his art, carvings, caring for his late sister含羞草研究社檚 house and trying to reconnect with family.

含羞草研究社淚 recently found my smile again,含羞草研究社� he said.

Watts only asked that people hear a user含羞草研究社檚 perspective before they judge others.

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