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
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
🐺Tony's Little Sister
Credits:
The Broken Pack: Stories of Sibling Loss is produced by Not Done Here Media.
IF TOMORROW STARTS WITHOUT ME
Written by Joe Mylward and Brian Dean
Performed by Fuji Sounds featuring Joe Mylward
Courtesy of Not Done Here Records
Licensed for use by The Broken Pack
Full song: https://fujisounds.music
