13 Sep The Changing Scenery

From Lars Hunter, Bereavement Program Coordinator

By looking at the title of this piece you may think I’m going to talk about the changing of the seasons and the trees that will morph into brilliant scenery. But this year that’s not the case.

Instead, I’m going to dive into a difficult and dark subject that involves the change of scenery we are all seeing in our communities, here in Brattleboro, the surrounding towns, and across the country. That subject is the increased amount of people dying of drug overdoses and substance abuse. 

I often read on social media, and in the local news, about the concern, and sometimes outrage and fear, of the number of people who are on the street corners asking for money, openly using drugs and alcohol, and appearing severely impaired by these substances. This is of course concerning and scary, and part of the changing scenery, but it’s not pretty like the changing of the leaves. 

There is no denying that this type of behavior and the frequency that we all observe it has increased rapidly over the past several years. The deeply sad side of what we are witnessing is the number of people who are dying in our community due to substance abuse and drug overdoses. Many times, these are silent deaths that are covered up by family and friends to protect themselves and their loved ones who have died – this is due to the stigma attached to this complex and challenging epidemic.

When a person dies from a drug overdose or from use of alcohol or other substances, they leave behind traumatized and shamed loved ones. Some of the grieving family and friends seek help, but sadly many are too afraid and feel stigmatized to come forward in fear of judgement.

Brattleboro Area Hospice welcomes anyone who is grieving any type of death loss without judgement. In the past year, 24 new clients have come in seeking support due to the death of a loved one to drugs and other substances. (24 is not a misprint!) 

These deaths are sometimes sudden due to an overdose, or they happen slowly with the overuse of alcohol and other drugs. Either way, we are losing people who won’t get a chance to live the full lives they were meant to live. We are not losing “junkies,” we are losing someone’s son, daughter, father, mother and many other loved ones. People are dying due to the disease of addiction, and when they die, their potential and impact on this world dies. 

The Bereavement Program at Brattleboro Area Hospice has been collaborating with another nonprofit that operates out of Wilmington, VT – Voices of Hope (VOH). VOH’s mission is to inspire HOPE and actively support people affected by substance abuse. They advocate to increase local resources and raise awareness about substance abuse and the importance of COMPASSION in the Deerfield Valley. Their vision is to create a community that fosters connection, acceptance, creativity, recreation, health and safety. VOH uses a grassroots self-organized model, to encourage community members to fight stigma around substance use disorder and bring resources, information, harm reduction and recovery supports to the community.  

I and two of our trained bereavement volunteers are involved with VOH to provide grief support, through one-on-one support and grief support groups. VOH also distributes Narcan to the Deerfield Valley and wider community along with simple training to use it safely. You may notice the sign now on the window by our front door telling the public that Narcan is available in the building.  

VOH and BAH recently came together to provide a Memorial Service to remember those lost to substance abuse and overdose. BAH has also taken other steps to help with this crisis. The bereavement volunteer training has been rewritten to include information and training about working with clients who have lost a loved one to these types of deaths. The need is great and our volunteers are willing to learn and help with this dire need. 

These may seem like small steps, but they are steps forward in addressing this deadly disease of addiction. May we not lose another person who is loved and can have a productive and joyful life. It may seem hopeless, but let us hold the hope for others who are suffering while they find their way in this world, and may we hope they survive to regain their inner hope.  

I sit at my desk on the second floor at 191 Canal St. I gaze out onto the road and sidewalk, watching the bustle of cars, ambulances, and people walking, riding bicycles, or rolling in wheelchairs. I notice the great diversity among the people passing, different clothing, skin color, and of all ages, some in a hurry, some out for a stroll. What a beautiful community to be a part of in these tough times. I also see the occasional argument, fight, and yes, drug deal and substance use. I hope for the safety of all those caught in the downward spiral of substance abuse and for all of us who live among them. May we all find healing and peace together.  

With hope,

Lars