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Esters advocated for people who use drugs in policy conversations with local government officials. She cofounded SIF MA, a group that promoted safe consumption sites. In 2018, she was a representative on the
Massachusetts Harm Reduction Commission, where she urged the state to launch a pilot for
246:
seeking methods to prevent drug addiction and deaths. Esters' team presented the idea of a mobile van that would visit neighborhoods known for drug-use in Boston. Staff would distribute sterile needles and provide counseling and two-days worth of
315:, said of Esters, "We've lost one of our strongest champions in her prime." Boston mayor Marty Walsh publicly shared sadness over Esters' death, and credited Esters with changing his perspective on policies regarding substance use.
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introduced a congressional record statement remembering and honoring the life of Aubri Esters. "Aubri's Law", a bill that would permit the creation of supervised injection facilities in
Massachusetts, was named for Esters.
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Esters spoke about herself as a "person who happens to use drugs." She taught medical practitioners and politicians about the challenges of life on the streets and the
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be carried out by law enforcement at Esters' apartment in Mass and Cass, near BMC. Esters died days after returning from spending three months with her mother in
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When she was 18, Esters began using drugs. After a couple of years, Esters was spending up to $ 300 daily on her drug use and suffered from
1017:
409:
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820:
992:
958:
Prevalence and correlates of non-fatal overdose among people who use drugs: findings from rapid assessments in
Massachusetts, 2017–2019
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228:, many of which she witnessed. She urged the state to recognize thousands of lives "wasted" due to preventable overdose.
197:
878:"Honoring Aubri Esters Hon. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts in the House of Representatives Thursday, June 18, 2020"
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caused Esters to lose close relationships, but drove her passion for activism. Esters' sister, Cheraya, who is also
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137:
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44:
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On June 4, 2020, Esters was found dead, after her mother could not get ahold of her and requested a
254:
Before she died, Esters was planning to work with Miriam Harris, an addiction medicine fellow at
452:
308:
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175:
148:
365:
361:"Aubri Esters, an advocate for safe drug use on the streets, dies at 35 - The Boston Globe"
324:
171:
957:
790:"State commission recommends piloting supervised injection sites for illicit drug users"
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196:. Esters experienced homelessness and said she benefited from services available at
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141:
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In 2019, at a Harm
Reduction Commission meeting, Esters interrupted Boston mayor
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test strips in Canada, she helped bring them to harm reduction organizations in
152:
852:"Rep. Pressley Introduces Congressional Record Statement Honoring Aubri Esters"
224:
and saved many people's lives from drug overdose. Esters lost friends to fatal
516:
265:
Esters was an organizer with the Boston
Homeless Solidarity Committee (BHSC).
217:
160:
821:"Two bills related to safe injection sites to exit committee by mid-February"
243:
201:
910:"MA Coalition for Supervised Consumption Sites Urges Action on Aubri's Law"
668:"Boston's harm reduction community mourns death of advocate Aubri Esters"
547:
453:"Boston Activist Aubri Esters, Who Championed Safer Drug Use, Dies At 35"
248:
232:
221:
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518:
SIFMA NOW Coalition Panel
Discussion: Why we NEED SIFs in Massachusetts
457:
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193:
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was killing people who use drugs. Jess Tilley, executive director of
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63:
638:"In Boston, Opioid Hack-Athon Generates Novel Ideas To Fight Crisis"
953:
Naming the sites of the opioid crisis in Boston: a political issue
156:
759:"Advocates push safe injection sites to address opioid epidemic"
489:
485:"Commission to recommend safe injection sites for Massachusetts"
220:
she and other people who use drugs faced. Esters always carried
125:
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and said "I'm sorry, this is personal, my people are dying!"
159:, credits Esters with giving her the safety and strength to
410:"Movement For Safe Injection Sites Loses Leading Advocate"
307:. Months prior to her death, Esters said isolation in the
151:
and legally changed her name to Aubri. Coming out as a
728:"'Safe' injection sites rejected for Methadone Mile"
578:"Testing drugs could be key to preventing overdoses"
948:
Fentanyl
Overdose Reduction Checking Analysis Study
105:
97:
89:
79:
71:
52:
30:
23:
698:"Harm Reduction Commission Members | Mass.gov"
608:"Hacking A Solution To Boston's Opioid Crisis"
136:Esters was born in Beverly, Massachusetts, to
120:(May 11, 1985 – June 4, 2020) was an American
242:In 2016, Esters was on the winning team of a
8:
794:Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program
258:, on a study that would determine how the
20:
546:Scoppettuolo, Gerry (September 1, 2016).
1003:Transgender history in the United States
336:
84:Massachusetts College of Art and Design
926:from the original on February 19, 2023
890:from the original on February 19, 2023
831:from the original on February 19, 2023
819:Service, BU News (November 26, 2019).
800:from the original on February 19, 2023
769:from the original on February 19, 2023
738:from the original on February 19, 2023
708:from the original on February 19, 2023
648:from the original on February 19, 2023
618:from the original on February 19, 2023
588:from the original on February 19, 2023
558:from the original on February 19, 2023
525:from the original on February 19, 2023
497:from the original on February 19, 2023
465:from the original on February 19, 2023
422:from the original on February 19, 2023
373:from the original on February 19, 2023
978:American drug policy reform activists
7:
1023:Transgender people with disabilities
998:Drug-related deaths in Massachusetts
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273:. The pilot gained support from the
185:. She studied interrelated media at
757:Schoenberg, Shira (March 7, 2018).
262:has impacted people who use drugs.
14:
1013:21st-century American LGBT people
200:. For over a decade, Esters used
140:Laura Pelkus-Esters and clinical
231:After learning about the use of
983:American homelessness activists
988:LGBT people from Massachusetts
825:Boston University News Service
642:WUWM 89.7 FM - Milwaukee's NPR
1:
325:Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley
287:In 2019, Esters spoke to the
275:Massachusetts Medical Society
204:to treat chaotic opioid use.
16:American activist (1985–2020)
788:competenow (March 4, 2019).
548:"Boston homeless fight back"
291:about safe injection sites.
1018:21st-century American women
1044:
993:American transgender women
271:supervised injection sites
147:In her late teens, Esters
289:Massachusetts Legislature
1028:People with fibromyalgia
1008:American women activists
850:admin (June 18, 2020).
313:New England Users Union
138:mental health counselor
644:. September 26, 2016.
614:. September 12, 2016.
319:Posthumous dedications
45:Beverly, Massachusetts
973:Activists from Boston
493:. February 27, 2019.
256:Boston Medical Center
144:Joshua Peter Esters.
72:Cause of death
66:, Massachusetts, US
876:Pressley, Ayanna.
584:. March 10, 2020.
323:On June 18, 2020,
166:Esters lived with
124:for the rights of
734:. June 20, 2017.
461:. June 16, 2020.
418:. June 18, 2020.
359:Marquard, Bryan.
309:COVID-19 pandemic
260:COVID-19 pandemic
153:transgender woman
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90:Years active
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678:on July 10, 2023
674:. Archived from
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172:heart condition
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582:Boston 25 News
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301:wellness check
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60:(aged 35)
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174:. She used a
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75:Drug overdose
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930:February 19,
928:. Retrieved
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892:. Retrieved
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859:. Retrieved
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833:. Retrieved
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802:. Retrieved
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771:. Retrieved
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742:February 19,
740:. Retrieved
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712:February 19,
710:. Retrieved
702:www.mass.gov
701:
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680:. Retrieved
676:the original
671:
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652:February 19,
650:. Retrieved
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622:February 19,
620:. Retrieved
612:www.wbur.org
611:
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592:February 19,
590:. Retrieved
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562:February 19,
560:. Retrieved
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529:February 19,
527:, retrieved
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501:February 19,
499:. Retrieved
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469:February 19,
467:. Retrieved
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424:. Retrieved
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375:. Retrieved
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191:
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168:fibromyalgia
165:
149:transitioned
146:
142:psychologist
135:
118:Aubri Esters
117:
116:
98:Organization
58:(2020-06-04)
56:June 4, 2020
41:May 11, 1985
25:Aubri Esters
18:
282:Marty Walsh
198:Long Island
967:Categories
672:boston.com
332:References
132:Early life
101:SIFMA Now!
37:1985-05-11
682:April 30,
244:hackathon
202:methadone
194:abscesses
93:2006–2020
80:Education
921:Archived
919:. 2022.
885:Archived
829:Archived
798:Archived
767:Archived
763:masslive
736:Archived
706:Archived
646:Archived
616:Archived
586:Archived
556:Archived
523:archived
495:Archived
463:Archived
420:Archived
371:Archived
249:Suboxone
233:fentanyl
226:overdose
208:Activism
161:come out
122:activist
106:Movement
458:WBUR-FM
305:Florida
187:MassArt
183:drummer
128:users.
237:Boston
222:Narcan
176:walker
170:and a
64:Boston
924:(PDF)
913:(PDF)
888:(PDF)
881:(PDF)
295:Death
218:abuse
157:queer
932:2023
896:2023
863:2023
837:2023
806:2023
775:2023
744:2023
714:2023
684:2023
654:2023
624:2023
594:2023
564:2023
531:2023
503:2023
490:WFXT
471:2023
428:2023
415:WGBH
379:2023
216:and
126:drug
53:Died
47:, US
31:Born
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