Episode 112: Guy Felicella, Addiction Awareness
Guy Felicella
On this episode, Guy Felicella shares his experience with a twenty-year addiction and homelessness; on six occasions he overdosed, died and was brought back to life. Today, Guy is an advocate for those who suffer from Substance Use Disorder and all that accompanies it, in an effort to remove the shame and stigma associated with addiction.
Guy Felicella is an international speaker and drug policy reform advocate from Vancouver Canada. He started coping with trauma, undiagnosed learning disability and emotional pain with drugs and alcohol at only 12 years old, which escalated into a substance use disorder that left him residing in the Downtown Eastside for 20 years. Guy faced additional trauma through a life of homelessness, institutions, gangs, severe health conditions that nearly took his leg and multiple overdoses. Today Guy has 9 years of recovery and uses his career and platform to advocate for trauma therapy, harm reduction, quicker access to treatment and changed drug policy. Guy is an inspiration to many and a fierce advocate for those needing a voice.