Grief & Drug Poisoning Toolkit [Free Downloadable PDF]

Mourning a Man I Never Knew

June 15, 2023

This spring, I turned fifty-four. I have now outlived the father I never knew: my biological father. It’s been almost twenty-three years since we spoke; eighteen years since I learned of his death. I’m still dealing with the strange grief of his loss.

Kate – Triggers

March 11, 2023

Kate discusses how she deals with her emotions when something triggers her grief

Kate – My story

March 11, 2023

Kate tells her story of being away when her brother died of an opioid overdose

Holding Space for The Many Faces of Grief on Father’s Day

June 15, 2024

A lot of blog posts and articles about grief and special days tend to focus on how to navigate these moments when our loved one has died. Often these articles of grief also talk about the ways we have deeply loved or cared for the person who has died. Grief is a natural response to…

Nicole – Power of Speaking About Lost Ones

March 25, 2023

Nicole discusses the importance of sharing memories of those lost to drug poisoning and speaking their names.

Left Out: Enfranchising Children’s Grief and Loss

August 13, 2025

By: Jessica Milette, MSW, RSW All human beings have the capacity to grieve: people with intellectual disabilities, those living with a traumatic brain injury, and children of all ages. However, many people can experience disenfranchised grief when someone dies. Disenfranchised grief is generally grief that is not usually openly acknowledged, socially accepted or publicly mourned.…

Nicole – Grieving as a community

March 25, 2023

Nicole discusses the power of grieving together as a community. Finding connection and trust.

John – Being helpful to someone in grief

February 23, 2023

John shares his thoughts on how to help someone in grief

Betsy – Anticipation

January 26, 2023

Betsy discusses the anticipation of her adopted son dying of cancer and now or her aging parents

Scott – The importance of processing

February 6, 2023

Scott discusses having a nervous breakdown and realizing that he hadn’t fully processed the grief he had been through with the loss of his mother and father. He also discusses how music helped him moving forward

John – The power of journaling

February 23, 2023

John shares how journaling has helped him so much