Professional helpers' experiences of assisting the bereaved after drug-related deaths: A knowledge gap

Abstract

Background and aims: Drug-related death (DRD) is a major public health concern in the Nordic countries, in the rest of Europe and in the US. After a DRD, approximately 10–15 next of kin will be left behind. People bereaved after sudden and unexpected deaths have a documented higher risk of reduced quality of life, daily functioning, and early death. It is important to know the resources professional helpers have available to them, the barriers and possibilities they face in their work, and how they can respond to the needs of the bereaved. This knowledge can help prevent severe health and social consequences of bereavement following a DRD. In this systematic review, the aim was to explore knowledge regarding professional helpers’ experiences of providing assistance to people bereaved after a DRD. Methods: Inclusion criteria were empirical studies of professional helpers’ first-person perspectives on meeting the bereaved after a DRD. Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method studies were included. Results: The results show that there are no studies addressing professional helpers’ experiences of providing assistance to the bereaved after a DRD. Conclusion: There is a vital need to develop more knowledge of professional helpers’ perspectives. This knowledge is important not only to improve education and the quality of health and social services, but also to help raise awareness of the bereaved after a DRD.

Barriers and facilitative factors in the provision of first-responder services to persons bereaved following a drug-related death: A qualitative study

“…Because of the gap in what we know about professional follow-up on DRD (Reime et al, 2022), we used an inductive, empirically driven and flexible approach to explore the experience of first-responder personnel. We chose to apply a reflexive thematic approach to the analysis of the focus group interviews.…”

“…Pointing to the interconnection between the meso- and micro-levels, many participants were flustered and apologetic upon discovering the lack of reflection in their own and their colleagues’ neglectful attitudes when they realised this overlook. Although Norway has a welfare system based on equality and universal rights, this lack of attention could be related to the impact of societal norms connected to illicit drug use and associated stigma towards the bereaved (Guy & Holloway, 2007; McNeil, 2021; Reime et al, 2022; Walter et al, 2017). We found it very interesting that the helpers acknowledged their disregard and reflected on this possible connection in their practices.…”

“…A systematic review (Reime et al, 2022) found that there were no studies addressing the perspective of professional helpers on providing services to those bereaved as the result of a DRD. Given the number of those who are bereaved after drug death, who experience these losses as unnatural, and often had complicated and challenging relations with their next of kin when the latter was still alive, this gap in the research can be viewed as a missed recognition of persons who would benefit from psychosocial follow-up, as well as a shortfall in the knowledge of the health and welfare services (Lindeman et al, 2021; Orford et al, 2013; Templeton, McKell, et al, 2017; Valentine et al, 2016, 2018).…”

Drug control and human rights in the Russian Federation

“…The objective set in a study by Tarp et al (2022) was to understand how the individuals view their alcohol use and explore their reasons for not seeking treatment. Reime et al (2022) point out a great gap in knowledge on professional helpers' experiences of providing assistance to the bereaved after a drug-related deaths (DRD). The authors argue that this knowledge is important not only to improve education and the quality of health and social services, but also to help raise awareness of the bereaved after a DRD.…”

“…Seven years ago, in May 2015, members of the Russian Civil Society Mechanism for Monitoring of Drug Policy Reforms compiled a letter to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights with the title “Violations of human rights in the name of drug control in Russia” ( Russian Civil Society Mechanism for Monitoring of Drug Policy Reforms in Russia, 2015 ). The situation is aptly summarised by the subheading: “Stigmatizing language, overreliance on punitive restrictions, indifference to human rights, and obliteration of science”.…”