The special grief following drug related deaths

Dyregrov, Kari; Møgster, Birthe; Løseth, Hilde-Margit; Lorås, Lennart; Titlestad, Kristine Berg

doi:10.1080/16066359.2019.1679122

Cited by 26 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…In addition, the model integrates the notion of disenfranchized grief among the drug-death bereaved, indicating that experiencing unacknowledged losses could complicate the grieving process. Our study's findings elaborate on the elements and the dynamic within the described theoretical model by Dyregrov et al (2019). Accordingly, we identified an extensive overload of emotions and we suggest that the consequences for daily life can be explained in terms of an 'extended parenthood' (Figure 2).…”

Section: The Special Grief Of Drug-death Bereaved Parentssupporting

confidence: 60%

“…From the general literature on grief and bereavement and taking into consideration the results from studies on drugdeath bereaved, it is possible to make some assumptions about bereavement after DRDs. A theoretical model, 'The special grief', describing components of drug-death bereavement has been developed by Dyregrov et al (2019). Dyregrov et al (2019) accept that anticipatory grief, in addition to the stress of living with a person who uses narcotics, can contribute to an emotional overload and make the processing of grief more difficult for the bereaved.…”

Section: The Special Grief Of Drug-death Bereaved Parentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A theoretical model, 'The special grief', describing components of drug-death bereavement has been developed by Dyregrov et al (2019). Dyregrov et al (2019) accept that anticipatory grief, in addition to the stress of living with a person who uses narcotics, can contribute to an emotional overload and make the processing of grief more difficult for the bereaved. In line with theories of stigma, the model also incorporates the possibility that those bereaved by DRDs can experience negative attitudes and actions from those around them, such as networks, local communities and support services.…”

Section: The Special Grief Of Drug-death Bereaved Parentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sounds of silence. The “special grief” of drug-death bereaved parents: a qualitative study

Titlestad

Mellingen

Stroebe

et al. 2020

Addiction Research & Theory

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Background: Drug-death bereavement is an understudied topic. We explore what bereaved parents experience after losing their child to drug use. The aim of the paper is to provide knowledge about what drug-death bereaved parents go through and study the kinds of help and support they receive. Method: Reflexive thematic analysis is used to analyze 14 semi-structured in-depth interviews with Norwegian parents. Results: We generated four main themes: (I) 'constant preparedness' describes the burdensome overload that the parents experienced before death; (II) 'stigmatization' represents public and self-induced stigma; (III) 'emotional overload' refers to the parents' complex and ambivalent emotions, such as anger, guilt and shock after the loss; and (IV) 'complex relations' describes the parents' relations with public services and their personal social networks. Discussion: We discuss how overload, before and after the loss experience, causes a special grief. How this overload, silence from helpers, self-stigma and complicated interactions with social networks contribute to the grief of these parents is also discussed. Potential implications for policy and practice are subsequently outlined.

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Section: The Special Grief Of Drug-death Bereaved Parentssupporting

confidence: 60%

Section: The Special Grief Of Drug-death Bereaved Parentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Special Grief Of Drug-death Bereaved Parentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sounds of silence. The “special grief” of drug-death bereaved parents: a qualitative study

Titlestad

Mellingen

Stroebe

et al. 2020

Addiction Research & Theory

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“…In discussing the phenomenology of grief as it relates to DRD bereavement, Dyregrov et al (2020) explored the experience of this population from contextual, relational, and public health perspectives in the literature. Families bereaved due to a DRD experience many social, physical, and psychological health outcomes unique to the context of a "special" death, coinciding with the findings of Titlestad et al (2019), including stigmatization, complex emotions, the lack of help when in crisis and the importance of help from peers.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

‘Special death’: Living with bereavement by drug-related death in Ireland

2021

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This paper explores the impact of complicated grief on the family system following the drug-related death of a family member. Drug-related deaths are rife with moral stigmas, and those left behind often carry an emotional burden laden with shame and guilt. 17 bereaved family members were interviewed using semi-structured interviews and transcripts were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Three core themes were generated: Renegotiation of Relationships; Experiencing Complex Emotions; and Adjusting to a New Reality. The findings demonstrate that this population experience great difficulty in processing their grief as they struggle with family breakdown, navigating supports and stigma.

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“…The scarce research on this group supports an assumption that the grief of bereaved after DRD is disenfranchised grief, that the cause of death results in less social support and openness around the grieving process ( Doka, 2002 ; Titlestad, Mellingen, et al, 2020 ). The Norwegian Drug death related bereavement and recovery project (END) is devoted to the study of several aspects of DRD bereavement and recovery, e.g., how the DRD-bereaved experience grief and stigma and are supported by health and social care services ( Dyregrov et al, 2020 ; Dyregrov & Selseng, 2021 ; Løberg et al, 2019 ; Titlestad, Mellingen, et al, 2020 ; Titlestad, Stroebe, & Dyregrov, 2020 ). A major rationale of the project is to communicate advice to service providers and policymakers in order to reduce stigma and improve the quality of life of the bereaved.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Fjær

Dyregrov

2021

Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs

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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.

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The special grief following drug related deaths

Cited by 26 publications

References 33 publications

Sounds of silence. The “special grief” of drug-death bereaved parents: a qualitative study

Sounds of silence. The “special grief” of drug-death bereaved parents: a qualitative study

‘Special death’: Living with bereavement by drug-related death in Ireland

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

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