Without a doubt, the pandemic has made it harder for people struggling with drug addiction to cope with day-to-day living. The overdose rate during COVID-19 has surged. Yet the opioid crisis ravaging our communities remains largely a private experience, frequently hidden because of misconceptions and stigma.
Tonight we share nine stories about the opioid epidemic, COVID-19, and grief. We begin with Clay’s story. Warning: some of these narratives contain references to self-harm, death, and suicide.
Jeane Anne
Jean Anne: “I am from Ashland, Kentucky. It borders West Virginia. I heard about a lady in Huntington that found a dead body of someone
Hannah and David
Hannah: “When I first took a Percocet, I was mostly ignorant about the opioid crisis. As a teenager, I had done my fair share of
Adrian and Callie
Callie: “My older son Averi struggled with depression because of a bone disease. He hurt a lot. On the day he passed away, he had
Ryan and Jennifer with Blue
Jennifer: Blue Valentine It was a divine intervention. That’s the only way I can describe it. The realization of what happened left me stunned, leaving
