S4 E4 Losing Someone To Addiction

Grief is something you can’t avoid. It comes in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes we grieve because we could not save someone no matter how hard we tried. Today we are talking about loss due to addiction. I read that something like 46 million Americans struggle with addiction, but many don’t get the treatment they need. Maybe they don’t realize they need help. Maybe they aren’t sure where to start or think they cannot afford it. Or maybe they have tried. Our guest shares her story of losing her husband to addiction and the grief that followed.

There are many organizations out there for those facing addiction and substance abuse as well as groups helping with loss due to addiction.

Grief Recovery After a Substance Use Passing (GRASP) offers free local support meetings, plus book recommendations and other helpful resources www.grasphelp.org

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

SAMHSA’s National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357) (also known as the Treatment Referral Routing Service), or TTY: 1-800-487-4889 is a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders.

 If you or someone you know is in crisis you may Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Lifeline) at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or text the Crisis Text Line (text HELLO to 741741). Both services are free and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.