With more than 112,000 people dying of overdoses from opioid and fentanyl poisonings last year in this country, it has left in its wake a legion of walking wounded—those grieving the deaths of children, a spouse and other loved ones.
A recent survey by the nonprofit think tank RAND Corporation found that more than 40% of American adults know someone who died from an overdose.
In response to the epidemic, a group of women, all members of Families in Support of Treatment (F.I.S.T), and Gabriel’s Giving Tree (GGT) have started a grief support group that is expressly for family members who have had their lives devastated by these overdose deaths. The women-Paulette Phillippe, Lori Carbonaro, Claudia Friszell and Carole Trottere, have all suffered their own loss of a child or grandchild from substance use disorder.
The grief support group will be held every third Friday of the month, at 7 p.m. at Thrive, 1324 Motor Parkway in Hauppauge. The group will be led by a clinician, as well as other parents who have lost children. The first meeting will be held on Friday, March 15. For more information, call (631) 822-3396. Thrive has generously donated the time and space for the support group to meet.
The death of a child is devastating beyond words and it can also have the added burden, for many, of shame and blame. This support group will be a safe space for anyone grieving this unique loss.