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 hesa国际传媒檚 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.

Hesa国际传媒檚 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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sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 hard to reach out to people. Us addicts are constantly being shamed on social media,sa国际传媒� Watts said. sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 the shame that makes us want to use alone and get away from society.sa国际传媒�

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

sa国际传媒淚 had to see my sister dead to actually change, itsa国际传媒檚 really hard,sa国际传媒� he said, adding that through his recovery efforts, hesa国际传媒檚 hoping to prevent the trauma his family endured then.

sa国际传媒淚 never want to put them through that pain. Isa国际传媒檝e been through a lot of battles because of my addiction, I also hurt a lot of people, I regret that.sa国际传媒�

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.

sa国际传媒淪tigma and trauma tend to make the experiences worse and keep people from getting the supports that they need,sa国际传媒� she said. sa国际传媒淭heresa国际传媒檚 a lot of hate for people who use drugs.sa国际传媒�

Watts acknowledged that scenario.

sa国际传媒淚 know Isa国际传媒檓 an addict and I admit Isa国际传媒檓 an addict. We have to stop judging each other.sa国际传媒� He quoted a phrase often used in recovery fields: sa国际传媒淗urt people, hurt people.sa国际传媒�

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

sa国际传媒淭heysa国际传媒檙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,sa国际传媒� she said. sa国际传媒淭here isnsa国际传媒檛 one (type of treatment) thatsa国际传媒檚 going to work for everyone, and unfortunately if people try something and it doesnsa国际传媒檛 work, they blame themselves. The reality is itsa国际传媒檚 likely more accurate to say that wasnsa国际传媒檛 the correct path for them.sa国际传媒�

These days, Watts finds solace in his art, carvings, caring for his late sistersa国际传媒檚 house and trying to reconnect with family.

sa国际传媒淚 recently found my smile again,sa国际传媒� he said.

Watts only asked that people hear a usersa国际传媒檚 perspective before they judge others.

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