Humanizing Drug Overdoses in Colorado: A Liberatory Harm Reduction Comic Made with Sex Workers and People Who Use Drugs

Abstract Anthropologists and folklorists with a desire to foster social justice change apply the graphic novel approach to share personal narratives of community members. Our team of arts-based researchers and community advocates offers details of a university-research partnership and a brief example of a graphic novel excerpt from the larger project. The graphic novel excerpt showcases Chloe, a person who uses drugs and sex worker, and an overdose incident at her workplace in Colorado. The graphic novel approach helps to humanize people who use drugs and destigmatize individuals who engage in routine drug use as part of their health care regimen.