She knew her mom was a loving, caring person who was dealing with substance use disorder (SUD), so she chose to lead with support instead of judgment.
Catherine discovered harm reduction as a way to understand her mom’s substance use from a more compassionate viewpoint. She knew her mom was a loving, caring person who was dealing with substance use disorder (SUD), so she chose to lead with love and support instead of judgment.
This led Catherine to a career in supporting people with SUDs, and through her work, she’s found that harm reduction is the most effective approach. As she says, "Compassionate systems that...empower people to make their own choices work better, right?" She’s committed to making sure people can get the care they need without judgment, and that they have the chance to speak up for themselves and their needs.
To learn more about harm reduction, visit harmreduction.org. Find harm reduction resources in Santa Clara County at publichealth.sccgov.org/harm-reduction-program.