Humanizing The Opioid Crisis
Q&A’s with #RisingYouth Alumni Maria Vassiliou
Maria Vassiliou used her 1,500$ #RisingYouth Grant to capture the stories of People Who Use Drugs (PWUDs) in a public photo gallery that aimed at educating the general population about the opioid crisis, reduce stigma around the opioid crisis being about “addicts”, and share the stories of the most marginalized that are affected by the situation. The stories and pictures associated with them focused on the individuals, and what brought them to where they are today.
Where are you from? What place do you call home and why?
My feet are in Toronto, while my heart is in Greece.
I love the hustle and bustle of a big city like Toronto, along with the freedom it provides. There are endless opportunities to connect with people outside of your immediate circle, that I feel like people often take for granted.
That said, nothing beats Grecian mountains, architecture, frappes, and the smell of sage growing in the fields. Along with having my family based in Greece, it’ll always have a special place in my heart.
What are you passionate about? What are your hobbies?
Imagine you know something is on the horizon that will change the course of your life, and impact all your loved ones. Despite this knowledge, you do nothing to prepare yourself or them for it– everyone still knows it’s coming, but chooses to avoid it. This elephant in the room is death, and it’s a topic that more people need to discuss.
I learned first hand how many gaps there are in our education system, government support, and workplace policies around death/bereavement. Not only do these gaps affect our individual health, but also the greater economy. Everyone experiences grief and death in their lives, which allows for exponential opportunities for my work through Philotimo Life. Through the scientific lens of Thanatology and Death Literacy, we look to fill these gaps in education and create positive social reform. The ultimate goal is to create a world that’s more compassionate, empathetic, and connected while providing a valuable service to those in need, all through normalizing the conversation around death.
How did the idea for this project come to you?
Hiraeth was conceived from a project opportunity that was offered to PQWCHC by the organization, Global Shapers Toronto.
The origins of this photo project were conceived out of a need to raise community awareness around the devastating impacts of the opiate crisis. Similar to the popular blog; Humans of New York, the objective of this project was to humanize the impacts of the opioid crisis by associating a face with a story. Having this concept as a starting point, we chose it was important to reflect on all of the catastrophic losses that the community endured throughout the pandemic.
While the toxic drug supply persists and the community continued to experience waves of unimaginable grief, self-reflection and love emerged from it. Love and reflection became another prominent theme for the project.
All this resulted in Hiraeth having a deeper focus on the themes of love, grief, and community as a way to document the life stories of those impacted by preventable systemic failures. The project consisted of gradual growth and progress to get it to its final point– much like the rest of life.
What was your motivation behind this project?
The motivation behind this project was to share the stories of those within the community. This purpose, above all else, is what encouraged me throughout the course of the project, despite any obstacles and challenges that were encountered.
How has the project impacted you in your everyday life?
This project made me reflect on the importance of clear communication and open collaboration within groups. This has made me reflect on how to better speak my mind, and how to ask better questions.
This project has also allowed me to initiate conversations around topics that most see as taboo. It’s provided the opportunity to encourage a dialogue with people in a way that educates them on the themes within the project.
What would you say to a youth who is thinking about doing a #RisingYouth project?
It’s always best to start a project that isn’t fully fleshed out in the beginning and to learn along the way, then it is to wait for everything to be perfect before you start. A quote from Simon Sinek that resonates well here — the best way to find out if it will work is to do it.
