Remember that just because you hit bottom doesn’t mean you have to stay there. ~ Robert Downey Jr.
Losing a loved one is one of the most painful experiences a person can endure. Grief can feel overwhelming, unpredictable, and deeply isolating. In an attempt to manage the emotional turmoil, some individuals turn to drugs or alcohol as a way to numb the pain, escape reality, or temporarily quiet their thoughts. While substances may provide short-term relief, they often complicate the healing process, leading to dependency, increased emotional distress, and even long-term mental and physical health consequences. Understanding why people use drugs or alcohol to cope with grief, the risks involved, and healthier alternatives for navigating loss is essential in finding a path toward true healing.Obtaining the right support when facing addiction—whether for yourself or a loved one—can be overwhelming. Recovery is a deeply personal journey, and having access to the right resources can make a significant difference. Listed below is a selection of trusted organizations, hotlines, online communities, and educational materials designed to provide support, information, and treatment options. Whether you're seeking immediate help, long-term recovery strategies, or support networks, these resources can serve as valuable tools on the path to healing.
- A Parent's Guide for Talking to Teens About Alcohol
- Addiction Center
- Addiction and Mental Health Recovery Resources
- Addiction Family Support Groups
- Addiction Guide
- Addiction Helper
- Addiction Hub
- Addiction Recovery Guide
- Addiction Resource: Drug and Alcohol Addiction Information
- Addictions in College: What They Are & How to Avoid Them
- Addiction Treatment and Recovery Guide for Disabled People
- Addiction Treatment Centres, UK
- Addiction Treatment Helpline, UK
- Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOA)
- Al-Anon / Alateen
- Al-Anon Information Service
- Alcohol Abuse & Addiction | Signs, Symptoms & Treatment
- Alcohol Abuse & Rehab - Edinburgh, UK
- Alcohol Use Disorder Comprehensive Resource Guide
- Alcoholics Anonymous
- All About Drug and Alcohol Addiction and Treatment
- AllTreatment.com: Drug Rehab Center Directory and Substance Abuse Information Resource
- America's Killer New Drug: A 2019 Guide to Fentanyl
- American Addiction Centers
- Are They Really Clean and Sober Just Because They Have Stopped Drinking? (Article by Carole Bennett, MA)
- Are You Ready to Quit Smoking?
- Aware Awake Alive
- A-Z Guide to Veterans and Addiction
- Beachway Therapy Center in Florida
- College Substance Abuse Statistics, Facts & Recovery -- The Complete Guide
- Coping with a Child's Illness While You're in Recovery
- Coping With Grief Following Unexpected Death Of Loved One From Drugs And/Or Alcohol
- Detox.com
- Detox Programs and Rehab Centers for Drugs & Alcohol
- Doomscrolling -- The New Drug of the 21st Century
- Drug Abuse Treatment Programs - Sarasota FL
- Drug and Alcohol Addiction
- Drug and Alcohol Rehab for Veterans | Addiction Treatment Services
- Drug Rehab Connections
- DrugRehabs.net
- Drug Treatment Center Finder
- Emotional Support Animals
- Explaining A Parent's Addiction to Children
- Finding Hope in the Midst of Overdose Loss
- For Parents in Recovery: Staying Sober After Losing A Child (YouTube Video)
- Gambling Addiction (Compulsive or Pathological Gambling)
- Grief and Addiction
- Grieving The Loss of Addiction
- Guide to Low Cost or Free Rehab Options
- Guided Imagery for Each of The 12 Steps (HealthJourneys)
- Heartbroken: Grief and Hope Inside The Opioid Crisis (Book by Ellen Krohne)
- Help for Veterans Struggling with Addiction
- Hope After Betrayal: Healing When Sexual Addiction Invades Your Marriage
- Hospices Respond to Community Grief Caused by Opioid Overdoses
- How I Finally Quit Smoking (Guided Imagery by Belleruth Naparstek)
- How Online Rehab and Virtual Recovery Works
- How to Become An Addiction Counselor
- How to Foster Peer Support for Addiction Recovery During Quarantine
- In Grief: Mixing Drugs with Alcohol
- Inspiring Addiction Recovery through Community Change
- LGBT Addiction Treatment
- Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)
- Narcan (Naloxone) Saves Lives -- And Where to Find It
- Narcotics Anonymous
- OK Rehab: Beating Addiction Together
- On Grief in Sobriety, and Elsewhere (Article by @Dr24hours)
- Overcoming Addiction: Paths Toward Recovery (Harvard Health Publications)
- Prescription Drug Abuse: Warning Signs
- Prescription Opioids
- Project Know: Guide to Finding Information and Help for Addiction
- Quit Alcohol
- Quit Smoking: Online Smoking Cessation Program
- Quitting Heroin: The 4-Step Guide
- Recovery Centers of America
- Recovery.org: Addiction Treatment and Recovery Programs Nationwide
- Recovery Programs in Pasadena, CA and Nearby
- Recovery Resources Online
- RehabCenter.net
- Rehab.com
- Remove Intoxicated Drivers (RID-USA, Inc.)
- She's In Recovery
- Slaying the Addiction Monster: An All-Inclusive Look at Drug Addiction in America Today (Book)
- Sober Catholic: Conversion, Penance, Recovery, Sobriety, Scripture, Prayer, Catholicism (Blog)
- Sober Nation
- Sober 24: Are You One of Us?
- Stages of Relapse and Relapse Prevention
- Substance Abuse
- Substance Abuse Resource for Veterans
- Talking with Kids about a Death from Addiction (Substance Abuse)
- Ten Medications You Shouldn't Mix with Alcohol
- The Addict's Mom
- The Addict's Mom: Interview with Founder Barbara Theodosiou
- The Comprehensive Guide to Alcohol and Sleep (Article by Paul Clarke)
- The Dangers of Drinking and Driving
- The Dangers of Drunk Driving: The Truth Brought to Life
- The Grief of an Overdose Death: Part 1
- The Grief of an Overdose Death: Part 2
- The Guide to Managing PTSD As A Tradesman
- The Recovery Village
- The Role of Grief in Addiction
- Tough Transitions: Navigating Your Way through Difficult Times (Book by Elizabeth Harper Neeld, PhD)
- Troubled With . . . (Focus on the Family Website)
- UK Addiction Treatment Centres
- Using Alcohol to Cope with Grief
- Veterans and Addiction: A Guide for 2020
- What Not to Say to Someone Who Has Lost An Addicted Relative or Loved One
- Why Substance Abuse Among Seniors Can Be Devastating
Your feedback is welcome! Please feel free to leave a comment or a question, or share a tip, a related article or a resource of your own in the Comments section below.If you’d like Grief Healing Blog updates delivered right to your inbox, you’re cordially invited to subscribe to our weekly Grief Healing Newsletter. Sign up here.
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