My life became split in two: my life before she died and my life after she died.You never think it can happen in your family, and when it does, it’s heartbreaking.

This resource has been designed to help you understand and care for yourself as you grieve. It was developed by the Canadian Virtual Hospice in collaboration with national grief specialists and people who have grieved a substance-related death. We are grateful to those who shared their wisdom and experiences. 

About this resource: When someone has died related to substance use

Within this resource, a substance-related death refers to any death that occurs as a result of drug use, including prescription medications and alcohol.

When someone you know has died as a result of substance use, your grief may include thoughts, feelings, and experiences that are different from those you’ve had in the past. You may be left with painful questions or the sense that things are unresolved. You may be feeling isolated in your grief because others don’t recognize your grief or avoid talking about what has happened, or because you are reluctant to share your experience with them. You may be experiencing a range of thoughts and feelings that can change as time passes.

Getting started

We recommend that you review the nine Grief Basics modules found on our MyGrief.ca site:

• Grieving before the loss

• Understanding grief

• How has this loss affected my family and me?

• Moving through grief

• Making sense of intense emotions

• Managing difficult situations

• Caring for yourself

• Do I need more help and where do I find it?

• When life starts to get better

As you read through this information…

You might be reading this shortly after the person died or some time down the road. We encourage you to revisit these resources often as you may only be able to absorb so much at any one time. What you find helpful may change over time. You might recognize your experiences or find that some of them aren’t reflected here. If there is content you believe should be added, please tell us about it in the survey at the end.

As you read this, you may have strong emotions or feel uncomfortable. It’s okay to step away from it for a while, or it might help to talk with a trusted family member or friend. Canadian Virtual Hospice provides online Discussion Forums where you can connect with others who may have experienced similar losses. You can also ask our healthcare team a confidential question at Ask a Professional . You will receive a written response within three business days (not including Canadian statutory holidays).

A note about language

Within this resource, a substance-related death refers to any death that occurs as a result of drug use, including prescription medications and alcohol.