Grief & Drug Poisoning Toolkit [Free Downloadable PDF]

Betsy – Mother’s day

January 26, 2023

Betsy shares her challenges around mother’s day when her adopted son died

John – What I have learned

February 23, 2023

John explains how he has changed since his wife died and now looking back what he would say to his self right after his loss

Adam – Advice

December 21, 2022

Adam shares his advice about losing and remembering a loved one

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.

Adam – Story 2

December 21, 2022

Adam discusses his busy life and how he has coped after losing his mother

John – What to do now

February 23, 2023

John talks about the time after the initial period of grief

Angie – Cumulative grief, cumulative trauma

July 29, 2023

Angie discusses the challenges of policing and how trauma and grief can accumulate

Jessica M – Continuing Bonds

June 13, 2023

Jessica talks about the values of continuing bonds and connections with people who are not here anymore. She gives some examples of things that have made her more connected to her Mom.

Kristal – Activism To Ease Anger and Grief

April 23, 2023

Kristal discusses using activism to help ease or channel her anger from the loss of those in her community to drug poisoning. She talks about her grief being very quiet and inward before, but that taking action helps her to move through it. She discusses how there may not be peace from these losses, but the goal should rather be feeling safe in the emotions.

Scott – Lyrics

February 6, 2023

Scott – Talks about how a friend in grief helped with the lyrics of “So far away”.Find the song at his website www.dotbmusic.ca

The ties that bind; grieving the loss of a sibling

March 3, 2025

When my three brothers and I were growing up and the proverbial hit the fan, Mum would often say, in a bid to keep her brood calm, ‘Well, at least we are all still here.’ She reminded me of this affectionate saying only very recently. I can still recall how I felt as a child…