Non-Death Losses Experienced by Black Adults Who Use Opioids

Losses that remain unaddressed can serve as a barrier to positive substance use treatment outcomes. Adults who misuse opioids face various barriers to substance use treatment and may also be navigating different forms of losses, including non-death loss. Due to the obscure nature of non-death losses, the support typically provided during a distinct loss is not made available, leading to the disenfranchisement of one’s grief. Lacking social support and having a reduced capacity to cope can be harmful to the grieving and drug recovery process, contributing to an increased risk of relapse. Understanding participants’ experiences of non-death loss and its impact on their well-being and drug misuse is imperative to promote recovery. Using a sample of 41 Black adults who reported opioid misuse, researchers employed reflexive thematic analysis to examine themes in participants’ experiences of loss. Identified themes were: (1) pre-addiction loss, childhood trauma, (2) loss during/because of addiction, idealized adulthood, and (3) loss during remission, recovery capital, interpersonal relationships, and stability. Findings provide evidence that non-death losses affected participants’ drug use, whether it was the initiation of their use, the duration of their use, or their remission or relapse. Researchers discuss implications for providers who work with people who use drugs (PWUD), who may experience adverse life events that could be framed as loss. Results of this study suggest that viewing clients’ non-death losses as moments of loss can help to explore their grief and ultimately address their drug use as a coping mechanism.