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Courage to Use Our Stories to Lead the Way: Starlings PEM Program.
We keep hearing that stories matter, which makes sense, because they do. But for some of us who have grown up with the stress and stigma...
Aug 194 min read


What if My Parent Didn't Go To Prison...? Reflections on Parental Incarceration and Substance Use
We often hear the “maybe ifs” and “what ifs” from peers who have, or had, a parent struggling with substance use & incarceration. Some remember believing it is their fault, a belief that grows as they do. Some are quietly grateful when their parent went to prison, told it was a place for getting better, and trusting they will. But as we grow and learn and start to listen to our inner voices, the questions shift. We begin to wonder: what would have been different if support h
Aug 104 min read


It's Complicated: The Grief and Stigma Attached to Losing a Parent to Substance Use IOAD2025
My journey with grief centres around the loss of my father. The grief I carry is complex, shaped by a relationship that was anything but typical. When he passed away, I was surprised by the depth of my sorrow. I thought I would feel indifferent. For years, I had imagined scenarios where his death would relieve the tension and anxiety his presence often brought. But grief doesn’t work that way. His death broke me...
Aug 64 min read
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