Advice to policy-makers for improving services to the drug-death bereaved

Abstract

Aims: The objective of this study is to contribute to an improvement of bereavement services and experiences for the bereaved after drug-related deaths (DRDs) by investigating their expressed opinions on what would constitute improvements. Methods: As part of a larger survey questionnaire, we asked people bereaved by DRDs what advice they would give to politicians to improve bereavement services. Out of 255 respondents, we received 196 written statements of advice, 83 focusing on the time after death. Two-thirds of these respondents were either parents or siblings, the other third were other family members or close friends. A thematic analysis was conducted to examine the written statements. Results: We found four central themes: broad-spectrum help, routinised help, respectful help and competent help. The advice represents a long list of psychosocial support to ideally be offered on a regular and long-term basis. Furthermore, the bereaved also discussed the cognitive and normative side of the services by including considerations about stigma and respect, and the need for more research- and experience-based knowledge about their experiences both before and after DRDs. Conclusions: Many of the services sought by the bereaved are already in place and described in national guidelines for follow-up strategies after sudden unexpected deaths. DRDs, however, has not been included as a task for the services and are not explicitly mentioned in these guidelines. The scope of research and policymaking on drug problems and DRDs should be broadened to include families and social networks in order to make the group more visible and strengthen their influence on policy.

Messages from research: Tobacco, drug use, gambling

“…The Norwegian study by Fjær and Dyregrov (2021) stresses the value of integrating into service development the experiences of those who have suffered a drug-related bereavement. The interview study points out that many of the services sought by the bereaved are already in place and described in national guidelines for follow-up strategies after sudden unexpected deaths.…”

Research circles as a method for implementing new services in the public health and welfare system

“…These fatalities have become a major public health problem worldwide (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2024 ; European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, 2023 ), and the health consequences for the bereaved persons can be severe (Bottomley et al, 2022 ; Christiansen et al, 2020 ; Djelantik et al, 2020 ; Titlestad & Dyregrov, 2022 ). Research has documented a need for developing targeted and needs-based services to prevent the possible harmful consequences following such bereavements (Fjær & Dyregrov, 2021 ; Kalsås et al, 2023 ).…”

Needs for help and received help for those bereaved by a drug-related death: a cross-sectional study

“…Nevertheless, some losses are so hurtful that the bereaved need professional help to cope with everyday life. In those circumstances, bereaved people’s needs may relate to a broad spectrum of life areas, from the spiritual ( Silviken et al, 2015 ) and practical ( Ross et al, 2021 ) to the economic ( Fjær & Dyregrov, 2021 ) and psychosocial ( Dyregrov et al, 2015 ). Unnatural deaths, as well as sudden and unexpected bereavement, risk affecting the bereaved person’s life and health in profound ways, and even the prospect of premature death looms larger ( Djelantik et al, 2020 ; Kristensen et al, 2012 ; Song et al, 2010 , 2019 ).…”