Woman Covers Herself in Body Paint to Draw Attention to Addiction Stigma

A Harrisburg woman recently staged a dramatic one-person performance piece in Center City meant to draw attention to the stigma of addiction. Alexis Johnson had spent the past three and a half hours being covered head to toe in black body paint and covered in messages like “SILENCE KILLS.” The sentiment was repeated over and over, on her face, her chest, her arms, and her legs. Johnson, who has been sober for two years, returned to Philadelphia as it was the  site of her addiction, where she used to score heroin.

Alexis Johnson posed in Center City covered in body paint to draw attention to the stigma of addiction. (Photo credit:ELIZABETH ROBERTSON / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER / Philadelphia Inquirer.)

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, “People passing by City Hall may have spotted her for a few hours in the afternoon Sunday, lying apparently lifelessly on the ground, surrounded by signs saying “shatter the stigma” and “end the hate.”” Johnson told press that she was just looking for any reaction, not one in particular. “Whether it’s good or bad, it gets people talking. … There is so much hatred still out there, and I just don’t understand where we lost this empathy for human life,” she was quoted as saying.

Johnson, who is now 34, started on her path to addiction when she was prescribed a pain medication after a car accident. Shortly after that, her sister died and she got a prescription for the anti-anxiety drug  Xanax, which is commonly used as a “party” drug. From the pills, it was a short path to heroin and crack cocaine. She overdosed seven times, and had to be revived twice with Narcan. She received a DUI. She served five months in jail, which sobered her up, but then had emergency surgery, which made her fall off the wagon. She has since moved into a Salvation Army rehab center in Harrisburg, and has been in recovery for two years.

The stunt with the body paint drew plenty of attention from passersby in Center City, who spoke of Johnson’s courage in drawing attention to the perils of trying to “shut up” addiction.