Doctoral candidate (Humanities) and Concordia Public Scholar Alex McClelland co-authors an opinion piece in The Torontoist that draws parallels between the rise in the number of deaths from opioids and deaths at the height of the AIDS epidemic in the late 80s and early 90s. McClelland and his co-author, activist Zoë Dodd, write about the marginalization and criminalization they say both groups of victims have endured.
"We think making the connection to the AIDS epidemic is important. People who have been impacted by HIV or who have been taught the history of AIDS activism have an understanding of the massive state silence that necessitated a broad social movement demanding action on AIDS. Making links between the overdose crisis and AIDS can be helpful in calling attention to the severity of what is going on, and can appeal to that sense of injustice that those who witnessed AIDS at it’s height may feel. Making the links may mobilize more people into action."