Now more than ever, Outside In is dedicated to empowering and walking alongside marginalized communities, including and not limited to our LGBTQIA+ community, communities of color, folks living with disabilities, and individuals on their substance use disorder (SUD) recovery journeys 

Meet David + Anna, and learn more about Outside In’s Substance Use Peer Support Services program and how you can support this life saving work.

“David hasn’t given up on me,” says Anna. “Knowing I have someone to call means so much. People like David and the staff at Outside In always help you if you need it.”

I’m honored Anna wants to share her story with you. As the Substance Use Peer Supervisor here at Outside In, I’ve seen firsthand how your support helps people like Anna rebuild their lives. Anna is just one of the thousands in our community who work with Outside In every year to reach a brighter future—and you make that possible.

I met Anna about two years ago through our Medically Assisted Treatment program. She also visits our medical clinic, participates in recovery support groups, and most recently was featured in our art show. We check in every week. We’re close. A painting of hers hangs in my home. These days, she loves walking with her dog, Shando, working at a café, and was recently commissioned to paint a mural.

When I first met her, Anna wasn’t making her appointments. She had struggled with heroin and alcohol use, often in and out of treatment. She almost lost her job.

“I just about lost everything,” Anna says. “I began using in college, right after my grandmother died. I’m 33 now. Art is something I love, but as I used drugs, I lost touch with it. My work became unfinished. It got worse. I felt something decaying inside me.”

At one point, she woke up in a gas station, screaming. She didn’t know how she got there. It was a traumatic wake-up call.

Sometimes we cling to things that don’t serve us. Change takes time and willingness. At Outside In, we don’t have a time limit. Our peer support program is there whenever someone is ready.

The hardest part for folks who use is admitting they need help.

“I tried so many times to do it on my own and failed,” Anna says. “I was afraid. I didn’t want anyone to find out I was using. Some people only want to see you as a junkie. You think, ‘What’s the point of trying?’ But most people want to see you succeed. I’m lucky to have support. When I met David, I could tell he understood.”

I’ve shared with Anna that I have my own lived experience with addiction. I started using hard drugs like crystal meth 35 years ago. In 1995, I began selling drugs to support my habit. Eventually, the FBI caught up with me, and I was arrested as part of a conspiracy to distribute.

My parents visited me as I awaited my prison sentence in 2015, and they were scared they wouldn’t be alive by the time I got out. That moment was a turning point. I started to really engage in treatment, and after a lot of self-reflection, I decided I needed a change. My sentence was reduced, and I began my recovery journey. I became a peer support specialist and worked to help others in similar situations.

Now, as a peer supervisor at Outside In, I work with anyone who needs support. We’re a low-barrier program, and we don’t require people to jump through hoops to get help. You just need to want help, and we’re here for you.

Oregon’s steps to decriminalize drugs was a step toward helping people like Anna, but we still face challenges. There aren’t enough treatment beds or open centers, and long wait lists can be life-threatening. We need more resources for detox and rehabilitation. Peer support is vital, and it’s only one part of the recovery process.

At Outside In, we offer a full range of services. If someone needs medical care, we have a clinic. If they need mental health support, we have counselors. For youth experiencing homelessness, we offer food, clothing, and job training. Having everything in one place makes it easier for people to get the help they need.

I’m grateful for where I am now. Working with people in recovery feels like I’m talking to myself at times. It’s rewarding to be a part of their journeys, and I get so much from it.

Today, I don’t need drugs or alcohol to feel happy. I wake up grateful every day. In my culture, we talk about the Aloha Spirit, which means living with love, putting others before yourself, and being authentic. It’s a guiding principle in my life.

Anna agrees: “The help is right there. We need more people encouraging each other.”

Without the generosity of supporters like you, we couldn’t change the lives of people like Anna and so many others. Please consider giving a gift to Outside In today.

Aloha,