GRASP (Grief Recovery After Substance Passing) and Broken No More host “Healing Hearts, Changing Paths” Conference to feature workshops, discussions and presentations focused on navigating grief and supporting harm reduction
Conference will Premiere Powerful Video Featuring Families Sharing Their Stories and Calling for Health Solutions and Not Incarceration to Address Overdose Crisis
(Albuquerque, New Mexico)—Overdose remains one of the leading causes of death in the United States, with over 105,000 lives lost in 2023 for the third consecutive year. On September 12 through September 14, GRASP (Grief Recovery After Substance Passing) and Broken No More will host the “Healing Hearts, Changing Paths Conference,” bringing together family members who have lost loved ones to overdose, advocates, and drug policy experts to discuss the overdose crisis. The three-day conference will be held at Sheraton Albuquerque Uptown (2600 Louisiana Boulevard NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110).
During the event, attendees will engage in discussions, workshops and networking opportunities aimed at fostering understanding, support and resilience in the face of loss. With a dual focus on addressing personal grief and advocating for drug policy reform, the conference will offer support for those navigating grief, and a desire to work toward change in drug policies.
“When my 16-year-old son Josh died from an overdose, I felt devastated by my loss and did not think I would ever heal from the pain of losing a child,” said Tamara Olt, M.D., Executive Director of GRASP/Broken No More. “Then I found GRASP—a community of other families that had suffered this type of tragedy. I found compassion and understanding and started on my journey of healing . Along this journey, I discovered how our drug policies have failed our families and are actually the cause of many overdose deaths. I now advocate for a health-based approach to substance use disorder instead of relying on the same old playbook of punishment and incarceration. The war on drugs—really a war on people—must be abandoned now. Harm reduction, access to treatment, and a safe supply are necessary if we want to decrease overdose deaths.”
GRASP/Broken No More is an organization comprised of hundreds of families who have lost loved ones to overdose. The “Healing Hearts, Changing Paths Conference” will provide a supportive community for individuals navigating the complex terrain of grief following the loss of a loved one due to substance use. Additionally, by emphasizing harm reduction and compassion, the conference serves as a vital forum for promoting drug policies that prioritize human welfare and dignity over punishment.
Broken No More will premiere a powerful testimonial video featuring families who have lost loved ones who share their stories and explain why they support health solutions to the overdose crisis instead of the criminalization and incarceration. The families featured in the videos are:
- Diannee Carden Glenn, Founder of ekiM for Change, a syringe service program in North Carolina. Diannee lost her 40-year-old son, Michael, to an overdose. Diannee lives in Florida.
- Susan Ousterman, Founder of Vilomah Foundation. Susan lost her 24-year-old son, Tyler, to an overdose. Susan lives in Pennsylvania.
- Joy Rucker, co-director of the Black Harm Reduction Network, lost her 40-year old cousin Derek to an overdose. Joy lives in Florida.
Many state legislatures across the country are pushing long mandatory minimum sentences and drug induced homicide laws that charge people with murder when someone dies of an overdose. Last year, Broken No More and the Drug Policy Alliance organized an open letter signed by more than 400 families from across the United States who have lost loved ones to overdose. These families are urging lawmakers to stand firm against attempts to double down on the punitive policies of criminalization and prosecution as a response to the overdose crisis.
Vital Strategies, a global health organization working to support health-centered solutions to the overdose crisis, is partnering with Broken No More on a range of activities from videos and website development to supporting this conference.
“Broken No More provides an invaluable service by offering love and support to families feeling the devastation of losing a loved one to overdose, said Tony Newman, communications director at Vital Strategies’ Overdose Prevention Program. “We are also inspired by their strength and courage in advocating for compassion and proven health solutions to the overdose crisis instead of criminalization and incarceration.”
For a conference agenda and more information about the event, visit GRASP Healing Hearts, Changing Paths Tickets, Thu, Sep 12, 2024 at 5:00 PM | Eventbrite
About Broken No More
Broken No More is an organization formed by families and friends of those suffering from a substance use disorder. We have lived the trauma of addiction with our loved ones and we have experienced the devastating effects caused by the drug policies of prohibition and criminalization. Far too many of us have experienced the loss of a loved one from overdose because of these policies. Broken No More was formed with the mission of supporting and promoting more enlightened drug policies that will reduce the stigma of drug use and keep other parents and family members from losing the one they love to overdose. Learn more at www.broken-no-more.org
About Vital Strategies
Vital Strategies is a global health organization that believes every person should be protected by a strong public health system. Our overdose prevention program works to strengthen and scale evidence-based, data-driven policies and interventions to create equitable and sustainable reductions in overdose deaths. Work across seven U.S. states is supported by funding from the Bloomberg Philanthropies Overdose Prevention Initiative, launched in 2018, and by targeted investments from other partners.
Learn more about our Overdose Prevention Program.
To find out more, please visit www.vitalstrategies.org or follow us on LinkedIn.