Shohan Illsley: Harm Reduction and the Fight for Dignity

We sit down with Shohan Illsley, Executive Director of the Manitoba Harm Reduction Network, to explore how harm reduction is saving lives and restoring dignity to people who use substances across Manitoba. Shohan brings powerful insights into why compassion-based approaches are essential to addressing substance use in our communities.The Manitoba Harm Reduction Network operates 11 sites across the province, connecting people who use substances with the support they need to stay alive and thrive.

We're talking:

• The toxic drug supply crisis that has claimed over 3,000 lives in Manitoba since 2014
• How the war on drugs is actually a war on people, rooted in racism and colonial harm
• The role of manufactured poverty and homelessness in substance dependence
• Why evidence-based interventions like consumption sites reduce deaths and improve community safety

Shohan reminds us that the majority of people use substances without problem—and those who do struggle deserve dignity, connection, and evidence-based support rather than criminalization and stigma."Can we just be brave and try something new?" she asks. "What we're asking people to try are interventions grounded in evidence that have been proven to have the desired outcomes we want."

Learn more: Manitoba Harm Reduction Network

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