Grief Companioning Project focuses on what happens after a drug overdose death

The Understanding Traumatic Grief Conference, hosted in Lynnwood by Support 7 and the Grief Companioning Project, focused on the challenges families face after overdose deaths. This year's theme, “After the Overdose – The Grief No One Talks About,” resonated with many attendees. Ryan Poirier shared his emotional journey since the overdose death of his daughter Paige, explaining how rituals and community support assisted his healing process. Dr. Ted Rynearson, who has a personal history of loss, highlighted cultural differences in grieving practices, contrasting Tlingit communal support with Catholic finality.

He underscored the necessity of a comforting, confidential, and collaborative therapeutic alliance in grief support. Rynearson's background includes founding a peer-led nonprofit grief group that provided structured support until budget cuts affected its operations. The conference aimed to destigmatize discussions around overdose grief, providing a platform for shared experiences. Attendees left with insights on how to navigate their grief and support others in similar situations.