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 had come instead of..

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...

Today, we invite each of us to challenge our own biases towards people with a SUD, while considering how our beliefs may contribute to the l