Grieving death by substance use

Resources

General References

• Waterloo Region Integrated Drugs Strategy – The strategy’s vision is to make Waterloo Region safer and healthier. Its mission is to prevent, reduce or eliminate problematic substance use and its consequences. This website contains lots of information about prevention and safer drug use.
• Wellington Guelph Drug Strategy – Taking action to prevent and respond to local substance use and addiction issues in Guelph-Wellington.
• Moms Stop the Harm
  • Healing Hearts Bereavement Support
• GRASP – Grief recovery after a substance passing
• Articles from What’s Your Grief?
  • The Grief of an Overdose Death: Part 1
  • The Grief of an Overdose Death: Part 2
  • You Were A Million Other Things
• Drug Free Kids Canada
  • Olivia’s Story – “As a typical teen I knew she would experiment and make some mistakes. Not once did I think she would die from her mistakes.”
  • Derek’s Story – An unknown drug sensitivity leads to a tragic accident after just one pill
• Grief when someone has died related to substance use from Canadian Virtual Hospice
• 7 Ways Grief is Compounded by an Overdose Death
• Blog – Adventures in Widowed Parenting
  • Grieving an Overdose Death
  • Life After Your Spouse Dies
  • The 2nd Anniversary of Your Death
• CBC Article – Local mom shares the story of her daughter’s overdose death
• Gone Too Soon: Navigating grief and loss as a result of substance use  
• Journeys: living with a drug or alcohol-related bereavement – The guide explores the emotional, physical and psychological aspects of drug and alcohol related bereavement, what grieving means and practical ways of coping with it.
• The Grief of an Overdose Death and How You Can Support Someone
• My Daughter Died From an Overdose. I’m Sharing Her Story to Help Others
• How I Stopped Blaming Myself For My Son’s Overdose Death 
• Saying the Name, Sharing the Memories
• Government of Canada resource: Stigma around substance use
• Self-Stigma in Grief: What is it and why does it matter?

Webinars/Videos

• Webinar – Out of the Shadows: Supporting Children & Youth Grieving a Substance-Related Death
• Documentary – “Just the One Time” Watch the full documentary on YouTube

Podcasts

• Grief Out Loud – The Dougy Center  
  • Ep. 39: Grieving An Overdose (Part 1 of 3) – The Death Of A Brother
  • Ep. 40: Grieving An Overdose Death (Part 2 of 3) – The Loss Of A Child
  • Ep. 41: Grieving An Overdose (Part 3 of 3) – A Teen’s Perspective
  • Ep. 111: When The Love Of Your Life Dies Of An Overdose – Marie & Jonathan
    
• What’s Your Grief Podcast: Grief Support for Those Who Like to Listen
  • Surviving the Grief of an Overdose
• Grieving Overdose Death
• Melissa Etheridge: The Rolling Stone Interview – in the first 10 minutes she speaks about her son’s overdose death.

Books

• Don’t Forget Me: A Lifeline of Hope for Those Touched by Substance Abuse and Addiction by Steve M. Grant
• Addition and Overdose by Connie Goldsmith
• Overdose by Benjamin Perrin
• Age of Fentanyl by Brodie Ramin
• I Am Here For You! A Story To Support Your Grieving Child Through Death From Substance Use (for children 4-10 years old)

International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD)

Every year on August 31st, IOAD is recognized around the world as a day to raise awareness about overdose, reduce the stigma surrounding drug-related deaths, and create opportunities for families and friends to grieve those who have died from overdose.

• International Overdose Awareness Day website has resources, tributes and a list of events happening all around the world
• Weathered by Twentytwenty Arts is a digital photography exhibition + fundraising campaign for Overdose Awareness Day
• Light Our Country Purple