When A Child Dies From Drugs

“When a Child Dies From Drugs” is written by parents to help other parents who are experiencing the ultimate tragedy of their child’s death from drugs or alcohol - parents who find themselves isolated in a fathomless dark void wondering whether they will ever resurface into the real world again. This book offers strength, practical advice and an aid in grief recovery for parents and families, gleaned not only from personal experiences but also from meeting with many parents through their out-reach program,"G.R.A.S.P."(Grief Recovery After Substance Passing) Subjects covered range from the emotional trauma of learning of the child’s demise and on through the guilt, denial, anger, “what-if’s” and, finally, acceptance and to suggestions of how to cope daily and into a future which will never be the same. It is also illuminating to all those who know someone who has lost a loved one through drugs -What to say and do? What NOT to say and do? There is advice here for those who want to support families in grief. With personal insights this book is very much like friends reaching out to friends in compassion and kindness - friends who understand because, quite simply, the writers continue to be on the same journey as those they will comfort.

"When experiencing the ultimate tragedy of a child's death from drugs, parents find themselves isolated in a fathomless, dark void, wondering whether they will ever resurface into the real world again. This book is written by parents who have been there. From the first learning of their daughter's passing, through forming an outreach program, 'Jenny's Journey,' that seeks to deter other young people from a similar end, to establishing a grief recovery program, they speak to all the emotions that will be familiar to those parents in similar circumstances. The book offers strength, practical advice and aid in grief recovery to help parents get through the greatest disaster of their lives." -- page 4 of cover.

Many communities have lost teens and young adults to drug overdoses over the last several decades. Much mourning has been endured, devastating the hearts of mothers, fathers, siblings, and those touched by the deceased. This work examines the grief and loss journey, as well as the transformation, of a mother when she loses her child to a heroin overdose. Qualitative research methodology is used to bring a broad and rich perspective to the lived experience of human events while maintaining an open inquiry. Additionally, the heuristic and hermeneutic methods are used by exploring the personal experiences of the researcher, as well as a review of the literature. Parents, families, teachers, mental health professionals, psychotherapists, clinicians, substance abuse treatment centers, medical centers, hospitals, and policy makers could benefit from this research.

A collection of wounded parents, whose children have died from a drug overdose or suicide related to substance abuse, came together on the website GriefNet.org. Each one was damaged by misplaced blame and guilt because they couldnt rescue their children. So deeply filled with sorrow they were unable to find a life after death. They have become a family-in-grief, crying together and comforting one another. The public must be educated to the reality of the War on Drugs. There are people who still believe in the junkie stereotype. Many presume, that, these children were weak willed and deserved what was coming to them. Some people are judgmental, uneducated, mean spirited, or have blinders on. Drugs created a helplessness, in these children, that is hard for outsiders to understand. Kicking the drug habit is incalculably difficult! Also powerless are the secondary victims, those who are left behind to cope with the losses this dreadful disease has caused. Each child that died left behind a parent whose life is now changed forever. They cannot erase the horror of that moment when they first heard that their child had died. The nightmares and the visions of their children dying continue to haunt them.

Are you reeling from a child’s drug-overdose death? Are you worried you will never bounce back from this devastating loss? Do you wonder how to live in the “new normal”? In From Heroin to Hope: Making Sense of the Loss of a Child, professional counselor Dr. Marsha Wiggins describes the unique aspects of grieving a child lost to drugs, and offers compelling insights into how to navigate grief. A professor emerita of counseling at the University of Colorado Denver and retired ordained clergywoman, Dr. Wiggins shares her experience of losing her son to a heroin overdose, and relates ways she coped with this heart-breaking loss. Using grief and loss research and personal vignettes, Dr. Wiggins opens the door to healing for those suffering the agony of losing a child to addiction. In this book you will discover: how to recognize the normal aspects of grieving, how to cultivate resilience in the midst of emotional pain, how to make sense of this life-changing loss. Heroin has claimed countless young people leaving their loved ones lost in the abyss of grief. If you need help finding your way forward in the dark, this book is for you.

A handbook for families with a loved one struggling though substance use disorder as a disease. Written by a mother who lost her son to a Heroin overdose and has endured the struggles and emotions that result. Follow along her journey to help others help their loved ones enter the world of long-term recovery. Her effort in establishing a Foundation to support recovery is a testament of strength, determination, courage and hope.

This book fills a critical gap in our scientific understanding of the grief response of parents who have lost a child to traumatic death and the psychotherapeutic strategies that best facilitate healing. It is based on the results of the largest study ever conducted of parents surviving a child's traumatic death or suicide. The book was conceived by William and Beverly Feigelman following their own devastating loss of a son, and written from the perspective of their experiences as both suicide-survivor support group participants and facilitators. It intertwines data, insight, and critical learning gathered from research with the voices of the 575 survivors who participated in the study. The text emphasizes the sociological underpinnings of survivors' grief and provides data that vividly documents their critical need for emotional support. It explains how bereavement difficulties can be exacerbated by stigmatization, and by the failure of significant others to provide expected support. Also explored in depth are the ways in which couples adapt to the traumatic loss of a child and how this can bring them closer or render their relationship irreparable. Findings suggest that with time and peer support affiliations, most traumatically bereaved parents ultimately demonstrate resilience and find meaningful new roles for themselves, helping the newly bereaved or engaging in other humanitarian acts. Key Features: Offers researchers, clinicians, and parent-survivors current information on how parents adapt initially and over time after the traumatic loss of a child Presents data culled from the largest survey ever conducted (575 individuals) of parents surviving a child's suicide or other traumatic death Investigates the ways in which stigmatization complicates and prolongs the grieving process Addresses the tremendous value of support groups in the healing process Explores how married couples are affected by the traumatic loss of their child

Significant changes have taken place in the policy landscape surrounding cannabis legalization, production, and use. During the past 20 years, 25 states and the District of Columbia have legalized cannabis and/or cannabidiol (a component of cannabis) for medical conditions or retail sales at the state level and 4 states have legalized both the medical and recreational use of cannabis. These landmark changes in policy have impacted cannabis use patterns and perceived levels of risk. However, despite this changing landscape, evidence regarding the short- and long-term health effects of cannabis use remains elusive. While a myriad of studies have examined cannabis use in all its various forms, often these research conclusions are not appropriately synthesized, translated for, or communicated to policy makers, health care providers, state health officials, or other stakeholders who have been charged with influencing and enacting policies, procedures, and laws related to cannabis use. Unlike other controlled substances such as alcohol or tobacco, no accepted standards for safe use or appropriate dose are available to help guide individuals as they make choices regarding the issues of if, when, where, and how to use cannabis safely and, in regard to therapeutic uses, effectively. Shifting public sentiment, conflicting and impeded scientific research, and legislative battles have fueled the debate about what, if any, harms or benefits can be attributed to the use of cannabis or its derivatives, and this lack of aggregated knowledge has broad public health implications. The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids provides a comprehensive review of scientific evidence related to the health effects and potential therapeutic benefits of cannabis. This report provides a research agendaâ€"outlining gaps in current knowledge and opportunities for providing additional insight into these issuesâ€"that summarizes and prioritizes pressing research needs.

From best-selling and beloved author Christne Harder Tangvald comes an updated and revised edition of her classic book of comfort for grieving children, filled with heart-healing words, fresh watercolor illustrations, and practical resources that help adults guide children through loss. First published in 1988, Someone I Love Died has long comforted the hearts of children 4 to 8 who have lost someone close. It gently leads children through grief with age-appropriate words and solid biblical truth that understands a child's hurting heart. The added interactive resources ensure this book will become a treasured keepsake. Once complete, children create a memory book of the loved one's life. And it offers grown-ups a tool that turns what could be a difficult season into a meaningful time of healing.

Loss is always hard, but when someone you love dies of an accidental drug overdose, the grief that follows can be especially painful and challenging. Readers will learn ideas for coping in the early days after the tragic death, as well as ways to transcend the stigma associated with overdose deaths. The book also explores common thoughts and feelings, the six needs of mourning, self-care essentials, finding hope, and more. Understanding Your Grief After A Drug-Overdose Death is part of Companion Press's Words of Hope and Healing series--empathetic books on grief and other loss-related topics, with just the right amount of education and support.