The 'Addictions Don't Discriminate' exhibit at the Esplanade

By Lisa Parent

‘Addictions Don’t Discriminate’ exhibit sheds light on personal battles with addiction

Nov 23, 2023 | 3:14 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – ‘Addictions Don’t Discriminate’ is the name of a temporary exhibit set up by the Medicine Hat Drug Coalition. It runs until Sunday at the Medicine Hat Esplanade.

It’s National Addiction Awareness week in Canada, and this exhibit is meant to destigmatize addiction, educate and show that there is hope for people struggling.

The exhibit shares six stories of real life people who have struggled with addiction. Many of them turned to substances as a way to cope with mental illness and distress.

“You know, we’re all addicted to something,” says volunteer of the exhibit, Diane MacNaughton. “I think we’ve all suffered trauma, so we all should be able to relate to this exhibit.”

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One story told at the exhibit follows Jordan, someone who used drugs to deal with mental health issues he developed during his childhood. Tyler is another, a man who became addicted to opioids after being prescribed them for back pain.

These are all stories that MacNaughton says need to be seen.

“It affects everybody in society and we have to look at all these individuals as members of our society. They’re just not throwaway individuals, we need to help them,” explains MacNaughton.

The effects of addiction is something MacNaughton has witnessed a lot in her life.

“I’ve been watching people die from drug overdoses and suicides for the last 20, 25 years and I am tired of watching my friends die, hearing about people dying. Something has to be done,” says MacNaughton. “I’m just tired of it, so this is one of the things I volunteer for that hopefully helps that and helps people.”

Kym Porter, a member of the Medicine Hat Drug Coalition hopes this exhibition shows people that substance use doesn’t fit a stereotype—it affects everyone.

“I think we all have preconceived notions and we seem to think that it’s people that are houseless, people that live outside, people that are in the bar every night. That’s not necessarily true,” Porter says.

Porter lost her son to an overdose.

“He struggled and the stigma and the self blame kept him from reaching out to get help,” she says. “So that’s another goal that we hope this exhibit will do, is make people realize that there is no shame in that struggle and to reach out for help.”

With this exhibit, she wants struggling Hatters to know that they’re not alone.

“If you’re struggling, you don’t need to continue to struggle, there are ways through it,” Porter stresses. “These different stories show some of the different ways through it.”

MacNaughton adds, “I think the people come in (to the exhibit) and I think it’ll change some minds. Like to me, even if you change one mind, it’s good, right?”

For more information on the exhibit, visit the Medicine Hat Drug Coalition Facebook page.