Contributing Writer – Jason Mayo
I’ve been in recovery since 2010. But I didn’t even know what “harm reduction” was until I started my new career as a peer advocate a year and a half ago. Since then, I’ve learned that harm reduction, though controversial, is critical—and misunderstood—in the recovery community.
For those who don’t know, harm reduction is an approach that focuses on keeping people alive and minimizing the risks associated with substance use, even if they’re not fully abstinent. It’s based on the idea that everyone’s journey through addiction and recovery is different. But for some, this concept seems to run counter to the idea of “real” sobriety.
People often say that if you’re using medication-assisted treatment like methadone or Suboxone, you’re not truly sober. I think that’s not only bullshit, but also judgmental and potentially dangerous. If someone needs extra help—especially in a way that keeps them safer—and their motives are honest, who are we to judge?
In recovery, the stigma doesn’t just come from the outside; it often comes from within. I facilitate a weekly dads’ recovery group at work, which we intentionally call “non-denominational.” We’re not affiliated with any 12-step program, faith, or specific philosophy. It’s just dads in recovery, looking for recovery, or curious about recovery. It’s a safe space. Why would I turn someone away if they still smoke pot but are actively working on other areas of their recovery? If they’re living a good life and working to grow, why should anyone care?
Recovery is about far more than just quitting substances or alcohol. It’s also about attitude, mindset, and behavior. If you’re hyper-focused on someone else’s path and questioning whether they’re “sober enough,” maybe it’s time to look at your own recovery.
As a recovery coach, my job is to meet people where they are. I’m trained to advocate for them and walk alongside them, helping them find a path that’s right for them, not one that fits my idea of recovery. Telling someone what they “should” do would be selfish and hypocritical. Everyone starts somewhere, and every person’s journey looks different.
One of the most commonly heard phrases in the rooms of recovery is the one on the back of sobriety coins: “To thy own self be true.” Harm reduction allows people to honor that principle in a way that’s meaningful and practical for them. Just because someone’s recovery doesn’t look like yours doesn’t mean they’re not committed to healing and growth.
Take, for example, a heroin addict who used to inject but is now using methadone under medical supervision. They’ve significantly reduced their risk of overdose and disease, giving themselves a chance to live and eventually progress. Or think of someone who was addicted to crystal meth but still drinks occasionally because alcohol was never their issue. Or maybe it’s someone who was a heavy drinker but now practices “California sobriety,” using cannabis responsibly instead of alcohol.
In each case, these individuals are making choices to protect themselves and move forward. Isn’t that worth supporting?
When we shame people who use harm reduction, we risk pushing them back into dangerous situations. I’d rather have someone on prescribed methadone than hear that they overdosed on street drugs because they were too ashamed to ask for help. Harm reduction keeps people alive, and without life, there’s no chance at recovery.
Harm reduction is everywhere in our daily lives. When you get in a car, do you put on a seatbelt? That’s harm reduction. During COVID-19, did you wear a mask? That’s harm reduction. If you’re a hunter, do you wear an orange vest before stepping into the woods at dawn? Again—harm reduction.
So, if you hear someone questioning another person’s sobriety, ask yourself: Why does it matter? How is this person’s recovery harming anyone else? Next time you’re tempted to judge someone for how they’re managing their recovery, ask them a simple question: “How is it working for you?” If they can look you in the eye and say it’s helping, that should be enough.
At the end of the day, the recovery community is here to help and support, not to gatekeep or create barriers. Addiction is a serious, deadly disease, and stigma only compounds that risk. The more inclusive we can be, the more lives we can save and the more people we can truly help.
To those practicing harm reduction, I say this: keep going. As long as you’re honest with yourself, you’re taking steps forward. And for those watching from the sidelines, remember the words on the coin: “To thy own self be true.” If we’re each doing that, then maybe we’re all in recovery, just taking different paths.
Jason Mayo is the creator and founder of Sober Not Subtle. He is a certified recovery peer advocate at THRIVE Recovery Community and Outreach Center in New York. Jason currently holds the position of Community Outreach Coordinator of the THRIVE Everywhere Program – a community-based recovery supports program that offers free, non-clinical activities, workshops, and events.
Before working in recovery, Jason was owner and executive producer of award winning visual effects and animation companies in NYC.
He currently writes for The Sober Curator, has been a contributing writer for the Forbes Business Council, creator of the popular Dad blog Out-Numbered, and author of the children’s books, “Do Witches Make Fishes?” and “The Boy and the Billy Goat.”
Jason is passionate about advocating for people living with substance use disorder and mental health issues. His goal is to use humor, creativity, and lived experience to make a positive impact on the world.
Jason has been sober since March 25th, 2010.
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