I was saddened to learn of the death of PSH. Yes, it is very tragic. Yes, I wish that heroin use and overdose deaths of regular people would get this much attention. Our kids, our neighbors, our loved ones, our friends... It would be great if we could all speak up and say, yes this happened to someone I loved, I knew him/her, I knew his/her parents....
I am getting to the age where I read the local obits. Every time I see a young person around my sons ages that "died suddenly" or "unexpectedly" I wonder if it was an overdose. According to my brother, a local law enforcement officer, it happens often. I don't know that I've ever seen any mention of drugs or addiction in an obituary. There is so much shame attached.
Tragic and sad yes, but it seems a much respected actor's death of an (apparent) heroin overdose has caused a lot of discussion of addiction this week. The messages I'm starting to hear are 1) this happens, it can happen to anyone, young, middle-aged, old, rich, poor, famous or unknown and 2) addiction is a disease that has to be fought, not only by the addict, but by those around him/her and 3) we can be open with each other and hopefully gain support for the addicts in our lives, and ourselves.
I hope the discussion continues.
Peace.
