Addressing Bereavement in a World of Drug Overdose Deaths

Even before the start of the global pandemic, we were witnessing the epidemic of drug overdose deaths in California and across the United States; the pandemic only intensified that trend. Caring for families and community after a drug-related death—whether by accident or suicide—is  often fraught with complication. Addiction is frequently a health issue well known to those who love and care for the patient, leading to bereavement-related questions of guilt, regret, and anger. Moreover, the illicit drug use-related death of a loved one can often engender shame in family members and community persons who incorrectly believe, “Those things don’t happen here/to us.”  Join us as we grapple together with this sensitive topic and discover skills for better caring for clients, patients, neighbors, and friends when facing death by overdose.

Objectives. At the conclusion of this program, participants will be able to…

• Describe the grief process and its potential complication as experienced after narcotics overdose deaths
• Articulate strategies for supporting families and communities as they create effective memorials in the face of stigma and shame often accompanying death by drug overdose
• Utilize necessary skills in effectively assessing and addressing complicated bereavement

2 CEUs Available for Nurses