This handout is a quick way to start the conversation in groups. I have folks circle the 10 traits that they (think/feel) have. Than I ask them to put them in a numbered order (1 to 10), best to worst. One day someone suggested that they had way more negative traits so…. I started asking folks (after they shared the positive traits) to write their negative traits on the back.

Most of the people that I worked with for the last 10 years were men between 20 and 35. Most had started using as teens with cannabis and moved onto oxie and later stronger opioids and/or fentanyl. Most had felony possession charges and/or were on probation.

I kept a lose record of what people chose as their top 3 positive traits: 1. Hardworking, 2. Reliable, 3. Strong. One last thing, I usually asked folks at the end of group would their loved ones and/or family (however they chose to define that) agree with their list of positive traits. Most said (hell) no.