Opioid Epidemic: Holidays Bring Need To Support Those In Grief
For all the warm memories and goodwill shared during the holiday season, for many it is a time of acute grief. The American opioid crisis is rightfully understood as the worst public health crisis in American history, killing over 70,000 people last year alone. Behind the statistics are the private, aching pains for loved ones lost.
As part of my research on grief in the American opioid epidemic, I attended over 30 community events, vigils and support group meetings, and interviewed 23 mothers whose children died of an opioid overdose. These experiences give me insights into how to care for those dealing with the loss of a loved one to addiction or overdose.
Be quiet and listen
For many who know someone who has lost a loved one, it can be hard to know what to say or how to respond. Conversely, for those who have lost a love one, the silence can be deafening.
If you want to be supportive, consider your relationship to the person and the deceased and find an opportunity to approach the person one-on-one. Here are some things to keep in mind:
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
By Emily B. Campbell, Visiting Lecturer of Sociology, College of the Holy Cross
Photo via Shutterstock
Click Here: brisbane lions guernsey 2019