 International Overdose Awareness Day: August 31, 2024
Together, we can make a difference in the fight to end overdose. Join us in the world’s largest annual campaign to honor the memory of those we've lost and stand in support of the families and friends left behind. We recognize and respect the intense grief felt by those who remember loved ones who have died or suffered irreparable harm due to substance overdose. Together, we can highlight the strength of coming together and offer love and support to those connected to this tragedy. Sending love to all who are grieving the loss or injury of a loved one to overdose. Together, we can stand united in this journey. Visit www.overdoseday.com for additional details. For help and resources, visit samhsa.gov/find-help
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 International Overdose Awareness Week: August 25 - 31, 2024
This week, as declared by President Joe Biden in a recent proclamation, we observe Overdose Awareness Week. This is a time to mourn the lives lost to death by overdose and to support those struggling with addiction and substance misuse. President Biden's proclamation reminds us of the urgent need to address the overdose crisis with compassion and action. As we remember those we've lost, let’s also work together to break the stigma surrounding addiction, advocate for life-saving resources, and support recovery efforts in our communities. If you or someone you know needs help, know that you are not alone. Let’s stand united in the fight to prevent overdose and offer hope to those in need. Substance use disorders impact the lives of millions of Americans. But prevention matters, treatment works, and recovery is possible. We can all work together to #EndOverdose. For help and resources, visit samhsa.gov/find-help For information and resources, visit www.mygriefconnection.org/grief-addiction--mental-health.html  Losing a Child to Fentanyl Murder/Overdose: Tips and Tools For Grieving Your Child Due to Overdose
Wednesday, July 27th, at 7:00 PM CST Join Kelli Neilsen, The Grief Guru, for a FREE webinar, "Losing a Child to Fentanyl Murder/Overdose." Connect with other parents and learn powerful tools for your recovery! - Learn from people who have experienced the same loss - Move from reactive to proactive in your grief recovery - Learn the "how to's" of grieving that can help to accelerate your recovery After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Register at the link in bio at: https://app.thegriefguru.com/fentanyl-event-registration-page  Coping With Loss When Death Is Stigmatized Webinar
Join the FREE “Coping With Loss When Death Is Stigmatized,” TAPS Institute Webinar on January 18, 2022, from Noon - 1:00 pm EST. Dr. Kenneth Doka pioneered the concept of “disenfranchised grief,” giving a name to the reality in which mourners feel they don’t have the right to express their loss openly or fully because of the cultural stigma about how the person died. For example, those mourning a death by suicide or drug overdose may often feel that others are judging the choices and behaviors of the person who has died, or the actions taken (or not taken) by those who are grieving. Join Dr. Doka for a compelling conversation about how survivors can cope with loss when facing these difficult situations, and how professionals can better understand and support them. Register at www.taps.org/institute  Black Balloon Day
March 6, 2021 Across the United States, on March 6th, families and loved ones remember and celebrate the lives lost to overdose. This day has become known as Black Balloon Day. Black Balloon Day has become a national and international event, bringing awareness to overdose deaths. As with many things with the opioid epidemic, Black Balloon Day began with a family’s loss. Diane and Lauren Hurley began Black Balloon Day in remembrance of Greg Tremblay. Tremblay, a father of four, is the son-in-law of Diane and brother-in-law of Lauren and died of an overdose when he was 38 years old on March 6, 2015. Drug overdose is the leading cause of accidental death in the United States. Opioid addiction is driving this epidemic. Americans are more likely to die of an opioid overdose than they are from a car accident or by a gun. Black Balloon Day helps create awareness around the important issue of providing support to those struggling with substance use disorder and their loved ones. Overdose Lifeline has made a practice to release virtual balloons each year on #BlackBalloonDay and they encourage everyone to do the same. If you wish to participate and share your loved one’s name and/or story this year on March 6th, simply follow the steps outlined at https://www.overdoselifeline.org/events/black-balloon-day/ The Overdose Lifeline is a non-profit with a mission to carry the message of HOPE to individuals, families, & communities affected by the disease of addiction. Follow them on Instagram at @overdoselifeline and visit https://linktr.ee/overdoselifeline 2/11/2021 Do People Hide Their Grief Over Overdose-Related Deaths Because of Addiction-Related Stigmas?Read NowDo People Hide Their Grief Over Overdose-Related Deaths Because of Addiction-Related Stigmas?  Drug addiction is a severe health danger that can put people at a high risk of many health issues. Sadly, many individuals die from overdoses every year, and their loved ones may struggle to understand this situation. Even worse, stigmas on addiction may make this mourning process and treatments such as rehab for mental illness harder to process appropriately.
Addiction-Related Stigmas Exist Stigmas can be tough to fight because they are often so ingrained in culture and how people perceive the world. For example, stigmas about addiction – and other mental health illnesses – can paint a damaging picture. The idea that a person with an addiction is "weak" or "immoral" is widespread, and so is the idea that they "deserve" to suffer from addiction. These stigmas are a real issue because they create a feeling of otherness to those with an addiction. This scenario strips them of their humanity and can make it harder for people to feel sympathy for them. Unfortunately, these stigmas can affect the loved ones of a person who has an addiction and make that individual's overdose death harder to mourn or accept. Whether that loved one feels unable to mourn due to stigmas placed on the situation by others or by themselves is irrelevant – a stigma is a stigma. These feelings make it harder for a person to mourn a loved one. Instead of healing, they might face a challenging journey that may affect their recovery and cause a high level of emotional suffering that refuses to go away. Why People Hide Grief Many people hide grief over a loved one's death, an emotional reaction that is understandable but ultimately unhealthy. The reasons for this behavior can be quite complex, particularly if an individual experienced conflict with the person who passed. Overdose deaths might make a person's struggles with mourning even more difficult. First of all, a person might disown a loved one with an addiction and may not recognize them in their life. Or, loved ones might be mourning a person with an addiction before they die because their addiction has changed the person and their lives so drastically. An individual may feel shame from others in their community and deal with their shame by hiding their mourning and depression. But unprocessed emotions can challenge a person, making it difficult for them to move on from a loss. Even though they don't publicly – or even personally – admit to their grief, it exists. Left to fester, negative emotions such as grief can worsen and cause more damaging emotional health issues. Therefore, it is essential to fight addiction stigmas and process death properly. Ways to Fight Stigma Fighting the stigma against addiction starts by understanding your emotions. Sometimes people do not realize that they feel stigmas or behave in ways that may upset or damage their loved ones. For instance, individuals may use language that is very negative towards addiction and people with this disease, which may affect how they think about it. This type of language includes terms such as addict, junkie, user, or drunk. These terms are harmful and can create a stigma in a person's mind. The terms put the disease before the person by defining them by it. As a result, those who use these terms reinforce the mistaken belief that a person with addiction chooses to be addicted, worsening their stigma. Instead, it is crucial to understand that addiction is a disease, one that requires professional rehab help to combat. People do not choose to be addicted and they aren’t solely defined by their addictions. They are people who also have addictions to drugs or alcohol, not addicts, junkies, or drunks. Accepting these distinctions can make it easier for a person to grieve their loved ones and adequately mourn them. Remember – mourning is an essential part of recovery after death, and removing addiction stigmas may allow a person to accept death and avoid hiding their emotions. Ways You Can Help If someone is suffering from grief due to the overdose death of a loved one, you could suggest that they talk with a therapist or another professional. By talking with therapists, people can explore and express their feelings without judgement. Therapists can help people acknowledge their grief while helping them navigate their new lives without their loved ones. Support groups can also provide assistance. Groups such as Grief Recovery After a Substance Passing (GRASP) include members who have suffered similar losses. GRASP notes that people sometimes treat addiction-related deaths differently, so it “was created to offer understanding, compassion, and support for those who have lost someone they love through addiction and overdose.” There are grief support groups in specific geographic areas and ones that allow people to meet virtually or use online services to share and find information. The groups provide support and let people know that they’re not alone. They remind people that others have had similar experiences and are willing to help. Assistance can also come in other forms. Instead of asking a grieving person what you can do, do something. You can:
Just talking can also provide assistance. People might be worried that grieving people don’t want to talk about their loved ones, but the opposite is often true. By sharing stories and memories about their loved one, you allow people to discuss their grief and what their loved one meant to them. By helping people take control of their emotional health, you give them a better chance to be happy and healthy. Just as importantly, they can give their loved ones the love and attention they need so they can also mourn and address their emotions. Author bio: Patrick Bailey is a professional writer mainly in the fields of mental health, addiction, and living in recovery. He attempts to stay on top of the latest news in the addiction and the mental health world and enjoys writing about these topics to break the stigma associated with them. Sources drugabuse.gov – Addressing the Stigma That Surrounds Addiction drugabuse.gov – Words Matter – Terms to Use and Avoid When Talking About Addiction ncbi.nlm.nih.gov – Understanding Stigma of Mental and Substance Use Disorders ncbi.nlm.nlh.gov – Grief and Mourning Gone Awry: Pathway and Course of Complicated Grief grieflink.org.au – Unrecognized or Hidden Grief samhsa.gov – The Power of Perceptions and Understand: Changing How We Deliver Treatment and Recovery Services grasphelp.org - About Us (GRASP) mygriefconnection.org - In-Person Support Groups medlineplus.gov - Bereavement cdc.gov - Grief and Loss Overdose Loss: Moms and their Healing Journey Presented by Eric's House, this is a candid discussion with two mothers who walked the journey of losing a child to a substance. You will hear their stories and their experiences of moving forward with their grief. Watch for FREE here: https://youtu.be/t-jr0Nbwrzc  International Overdose Awareness Day
August 31. 2020 International Overdose Awareness Day is a global event held on 31 August each year and aims to raise awareness of overdose and reduce the stigma of a drug-related death. It also acknowledges the grief felt by families and friends remembering those who have died or had a permanent injury as a result of drug overdose. International Overdose Awareness Day spreads the message that the tragedy of overdose death is preventable. https://idpc.net/events/2020/08/international-overdose-awareness-day-2020 https://www.overdoseday.com/ Follow on Instagram at @overdoseawarenessday
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