Experiences of families bereaved by opioid-related death

ABSTRACT

Family members bereaved by a drug-related death are underserved. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 people bereaved by a close family member’s opioid-related death. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to identify themes in four areas: emotional responses (e.g. anticipatory grief), communication about the death (i.e. open or closed), supports (e.g. social or formal), and advice for others who lost a family member to opioid-related death. Findings highlight the need to support and reduce stigma toward people who use drugs and their families. This study guides social work practice by identifying the needs of families bereaved by opioid-related death.

KEYWORDS:

• Bereaved family members
• bereavement
• communication
• disenfranchised grief
• opioid overdose
• opioid-related death

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge Families Against Narcotics for assisting with recruitment.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services under the State Targeted Response to the Opioid Crisis grant TI081712 and the State Opioid Response grant TI080228.