I don’t talk about addiction as an abstract policy issue. I lived it. At 17, I was struggling with addiction and living on the streets of Vancouver. I know what it feels like to be cold, hungry and exhausted, and still have drugs matter more than anything else. I also know there were times when I was simply not capable of making decisions in my own best interest. But I also know what recovery can make possible. Someone believed I was capable of more. I found purpose, went to treatment and began rebuilding my life. Today, that life is almost unrecognizable. That’s why I will never accept that leaving people trapped in addiction is compassion. Every person we see suffering on our streets has a story that isn’t finished yet. Sometimes compassion means intervention. It means treatment, recovery, responsibility, connection and purpose. Keeping someone alive matters. But keeping someone alive is not enough. We need to give people a way out. I found mine. I want every British Columbian struggling with addiction to have the opportunity to find theirs. I’ll have a lot more to say on this in the coming weeks.