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'HIDING OUR HEADS IN THE SAND'

My brother, Michael, suffered a lot of pain from a back injury related to a car accident in his 30s.  His was prescribed opioids, which quickly became an addiction that ruled his adult life.  He was in denial and refused help.  He never had a problem finding drugs, and I don't mean illegally.

His doctors were more than happy to fill his requests for more.  Due partially to his addiction, he lost his home, his business and some friends along the way.  He became a bit of a hermit, and we often lost contact with him.  Michael died two years ago.  He was only 59.  The damage to his body that caused his death was mostly due to his opioid addiction.

Not only was it hard on my siblings and myself to lose our brother, but it was awful to watch my mother grieve the death of her eldest son.  Before his addiction, he was quite the character and loved by many.  It was heartbreaking to watch him decline into a man I did not know.  We miss him dearly.  We're hiding our heads in the sand if we refuse to face this problem head on.  I think injection sites are a safe place for addicts.

It can't hurt to try.

C.A.  Dwyer, Sammamish