Narcofeminism Storyshare

This fundraising is support a program run by NC Survivors Union titled "Narcofeminism Storyshare". Read more about what it entails below!When was the last time you heard a story written by, instead of about, women and gender diverse people who use drugs? What kinds of stories do we tell ourselves about them? Instead of capitulating to stereotypes, join our “libera-story”volution!

Narcofeminism Storyshare (NFSS) embraces the power of personal narrative as a vehicle for revolution. It is equal parts liberation, reclamation, movement building, and celebration. The global portrayals of drug users have done nothing but perpetuate stigma and harm. These chronicles dominate public discourse while excluding the voices of people with lived and living experience. Not to mention, they are wildly inaccurate. 

Narratives like these, poison the public discourse and further perpetuate the stigma and violence brought on by the drug war. We have been swimming in its waters for so long, we don’t even realize that we are wet. However, NFSS provides a framework for something new. It identifies and refutes the rhetoric that has dominated the media and our culture. It tells a different story. Our story. It disrupts the narrative. 

                    The Process 

The opening exercise in the NFSS process asks everyone to participate in examining their personal biases. This is used to examine a variety of topic areas, which we call “Narcomodules.” For each narcomodule a cohort of people who use drugs meet to analyze the structural issues associated with the topic, using their lived experience as a starting point. 

Stories are then written based on the critical analysis of the group.  We contemporaneously provide companion training on the evidence-base for the topic, such as Hepatitis C. The group collectively edits first drafts, helping authors identify instances of internalized stigma and reflect on it. Peer editors refine the stories further. 

We utilize many of the completed stories to educate social and medical service providers. Many of them have never considered what it’s like to access care. Until we tell them.

 Through interrogating the evidence-based surrounding the issues that most impact our lives,  we are able to write about the complexities of drug use in a nuanced way. Stories developed through this process describe the sociopolitical landscape within people’s lived experiences and emphasize how structural factors shape these experiences. It allows people who use drugs to truly examine their own stories without having to weaponize them for survival. 

NFSS stories provide alternative perspectives that, in addition to challenging stereotypes, advocate for harm reduction approaches that prioritize compassion, dignity, and human rights for PWUD. Previous Narcomodules have developed stories on overdose, Hepatitis C, and methadone reform, to name a few. Our most recent module, focused on the lives of pregnant and parenting people who use drugs and was used in our advocacy campaign to have North Carolina’s harmful HB918 bill vetoed. 

                    The Results

Narcofeminism Storyshare is not just a transformative program at NCSU because it provides a space for healing, community, and exploration. It also provides meaningful employment and contracting opportunities to people whose lives may be a bit complicated, but who have a hell of a lot to contribute.  

Our entire team is comprised of people with lived and living experience. Not only do we compensate our authors for their participation in the process, we also pay them each time their story is used in a training or webinar. Contractors are are also given additional learning and mentorship opportunities. 

 Your investment in us, is a direct investment in them!

We approach this work through a trauma-informed lens. That is why we have a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor on our team as a resource and support. Your donation will help ensure that those supports remain available to everyone who participates in our process.

Our work is just getting started!

                Join us! 

All the funds raised from this fundraiser will go to supporting this programs work of uplifting marginalized voices and disrupting oppressive narratives.