Millions of Americans have lost loved ones to the overdose crisis. People who are left behind suffer with a special type of bereavement and are at increased risk for prolonged grief, mental health challenges, and risky substance use. To date, people who have experienced overdose bereavement have overlooked by scientific research, clinical program, and public policy leaders. To address this gap, researchers at Stanford and RAND have partnered Peer Support Community Partners (PSCP), the community organization who have developed a groundbreaking peer support program for people who have experienced overdose bereavement.

In a study funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the study team will refine PSCP’s approach so that it can be delivered through proactive outreach to people who are bereaved by overdose. The team will develop methods for working with Medical Examiners’ Offices to identify people who are left behind by overdose deaths and to reach out to them with support. Next, the study team will rigorously test the peer support approach using a scientific approach called a randomized controlled trial. In this trial, peer support will be compared to proactive providing bereaved people with education about grief and a list of community resources in terms of its capacity to prevent poor grief and mental health outcomes in people bereaved by overdose. This innovative study will help to build the science of overdose bereavement and shed light on ways to support previously overlooked families who have experienced overwhelming loss.

For additional information, please view this handout.