Narrator:
So many of us are walking alone in our grief over losing someone to substance use. Blinded by sorrow and silenced by stigma, it’s hard to find others who understand our pain. We don’t talk about our loss as much as we would like, because we can’t. People view death differently. When it’s a result of substance use disorder, there is still so much stigma. If only people knew that substance use disorder is a health condition and that addiction is not a choice, they might have more compassion for us, the grieving, and for the 60,000 people we lose to substance use each year. Each death represents seven grieving family members, friends, neighbours and coworkers. We are nearly half a million Canadians looking for answers and meaningful action to prevent more deaths. So let’s walk together in compassion to honour those we’ve lost, to help end so much needless suffering and increase wellness for all. We know we can do better. Let’s do better together.
