John Makohen combines lived experience and counseling expertise to argue that harm reduction is survival, not surrender. Naloxone, fentanyl test strips, medications, and overdose prevention centers keep people alive, reduce harm, and connect them with care.

Shelly-Anne McKay looked successful while alcohol, drugs, food, work, and achievement helped her survive a nervous system that never felt safe. After 12 recovery attempts, she stopped asking what was wrong with her and began asking what her coping was trying to solve.

Jason Shiers launches our Future of Substance Use Treatment Series by asking whether addiction is only pathology—or also an attempted solution. He explores how treatment can honor disease, trauma, psychology, and neuroscience while helping people heal the needs beneath the behavior and move from recovery toward flourishing