Greta Nunez

When someone we love is navigating a complicated relationship with substances, the conversation often gets stuck on one word: abstinence. We’ve been conditioned to believe that if a person isn't completely drug- or alcohol-free, they aren't "in recovery," and that any help we provide in the meantime is simply "enabling." But this binary way of thinking ignores the modern, clinical reality of what it means to heal. Real support isn't about monitoring someone's sobriety; it’s about investing in...

When we talk about supporting someone who is struggling with substance use, our instinct is often to push for the fastest, most complete solution: stop now, get clean, turn it all around. This usually comes from a place of good intentions. But good intentions, without the right framework, can often make things more dangerous. Taking a "Safety First" mindset at the heart of harm reduction asks us to pause, recalibrate, and ask a harder question: What does success look like today? Life Is the...

Imagine the sheer exhaustion of trying to recover from a severe, bone-aching flu while your only bed is a rigid and cold park bench, exposed to the bitter wind, and the constant threat of being moved along by security. There is no soup, no warm blanket, and no door to lock; there is only the relentless cold of the concrete pulling the heat from your body. Now, take that feeling of desperation and multiply it: imagine trying to recover from a problematic substance use disorder while you're...