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Surviving Sibling Loss & Stigma Following Addiction Related Death

The Broken Pack: Stories of Sibling Loss

Chapters
0:00
Intro
1:21
About Sara
1:43
About Daniel and Their Relationship
3:41
Becoming Aware of the Disease of Addiction
6:31
A Family Struggles
10:30
Seeking Help
12:06
Losing Daniel
15:40
Finding Support (or Lack Thereof)
17:08
The Fog of Grief
19:33
Learning to Live with Grief
21:40
Differing Responses
26:31
Legacy and Honoring Daniel's Memory
32:35
Stigma and the Impact on Sara's Grief
35:04
Favorite Memories
36:36
Sharing Dan in the Future
37:40
Outro
The Broken Pack: Stories of Sibling Loss
Surviving Sibling Loss & Stigma Following Addiction Related Death
Mar 27, 2024 Episode 31
Dr. Angela Dean / Sara McCann

Surviving Sibling Loss & Stigma: Sara / Dan
In this episode of The Broken Pack: Stories of Sibling Loss, Dr. Dean talks with Sara McCann, Dan's little sister. Dan died from an overdose after years of living with substance use disorder and several years of recovery.

Sara and Dr. Dean talk about what it means to grieve a sibling whose death is stigmatized, the difference between who Dan was and how he died, and the work of keeping his memory alive for people who only know one chapter of his story. 

In this episode you will:

  • Hear Sara's story of being Dan's little sister
  • The impact of his illness
  • Talk of the disenfranchised grief  & stigma that follows overdose loss
  • Be inspired by Sara's advocacy to shift how families and communities talk about addiction.

Related Links:


Content Warning: This episode discusses the loss of a loved one due to substance use disorder and may be upsetting for listeners who have experienced similar losses or have experienced substance use disorder firsthand or in loved ones.

Resources:

  • In the US:
    • If you believe you are witnessing an overdose, call 911 or your country’s emergency number immediately even if you are administering Narcan.
    • Call SAMHSA’s National Helpline is  1-800-662-HELP (4357) or Text your 5-digit ZIP Code to 435748 (HELP4U) or call a warmline.
    • For more immediate crisis call 911, 988, or go to the nearest emergency room.
    • Peer support: https://warmline.org/warmdir.html
  • International

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If you would like more information or to share your own sibling loss story, please contact Dr. Angela Dean at contact@thebrokenpack.com or go to our website, thebrokenpack.com.

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Thank you!
Angela M. Dean, PsyD, FT, GTMR

Credits:
The Broken Pack: Stories of Sibling Loss  is produced by Not Done Here Media

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