Today is the 20th year of International Overdose Awareness Day with thousands of events now being held in 39 countries. It was started in Melbourne, Australia – our home many months of the year where our daughter and family live. Johanna is our only living child since August 2, 2014 when our son JL died of a heroin overdose.
This day is set aside to commemorate the millions of lives lost to drug overdoses around the world – individuals we all know who have lost their lives. Every time we are asked how many children we have and we share about our son’s death from overdose, we are met with another story about another family member or friend who has lost their battle with addiction and/or alcoholism or who is still struggling.
And remember: these individuals did not want to be addicted, to have their lives controlled by a never-satisfied appetite, replacing all normal joy and satisfaction from life and those they loved. But once their brains and bodies sampled the relief or joy or pleasure or peace that their substance offered, they were hooked.
Let’s all do what we can to bring awareness to the deadly game of drug experimentation and use, especially to our children and young people. Let them not be ashamed of talking to us about their temptations and failures so that we can guide them to early and successful recovery.
Our part of this effort was to write our family’s story in OPIATE NATION. For one week, the eBook will be on sale for $9.99 USD on all platforms worldwide. Our desire is to make it as affordable as possible so that the things we learned and wished we had known might prevent other families from the pain of losing a loved one to overdose.
Opiate Nation 