Grief Camp Helps Young Boy Navigate Loss After Sister Dies From Fentanyl
Miles, a โyoung boy grappling with the sudden loss ofโ his sister, Sarah, is learning to cope with โคunimaginable griefโค at a โฃspecialized camp designed for children who โhave experienced loss. โฃSarah died after unknowingly ingesting fentanyl, leaving Miles struggling to remember her and understand her absence. His mother, Tricia, has sought support toโข help him navigate a grief process that doesn’t always follow โขa predictable path.
The increasing โprevalence of fentanyl-related deaths is leaving a growing number of children like โMiles facing the profoundโ pain of losing a sibling, parent, or other loved one. According to the CDC, over 150โค people dieโ every โday fromโ overdoses related to synthetic opioids like โคfentanyl. This crisis is creating a โคsurge in childhoodโค grief, highlighting the critical need for resources like โฃComfort Zone Grief Camp, where children can find community andโ learn healthy coping mechanisms.
“I don’tโ thinkโ I remember Sarah. sometimes they want us to โmakeโ a picture about our favorite memory, โandโข Iโ don’t have โany,” โMiles told Tricia on the rideโฃ home โfrom camp one year.
At camp,a volunteer helpedโ Miles understand that memories can be created even after a death,by carrying something of SarahS,honoring her legacy,orโค thinking of her during โฃnew โexperiences. This year, Miles decorated a luminaryโค bag with lightning bolts for theโ camp’s memorial service.
For Miles,griefโข manifests inโค unique ways. He has created a small โspace in the kitchen he โcalls โค”Sarah’s house,” filling it with photos,toys,and a tiny dollโ bed.”She needs a bed in her house,” he explained to tricia.When asked ifโฃ Sarah sleeps there, he replied, “No, she’sโ in the stars.”
If you or someoneโข you love is struggling with a substance use disorder contact the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for information and resources.
Rachel Hale’s roleโค covering Youth Mental Health at USA TODAY is supported byโ a โขpartnership with Pivotal and Journalism Funding Partners. Funders doโฃ not provide editorial โขinput.
Reach herโ at rhale@usatoday.com and โฃ@rachelleighhale on X.