Grief After Substance Use Death: Language, Models, and Support for Social Work Practice – 1CEU

The Opioid Response Network is a free, SAMHSA-funded resource that provides evidence-based education, training, and technical assistance to help communities and organizations respond to opioid, stimulant, and co-occurring substance use and mental health needs. ORN works with more than 40 national partner organizations, including the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) and NASW, to connect people with tailored support, practical resources, and local subject matter experts.

This one-hour webinar on grief literacy is designed for clinicians, facilitators, educators, and community partners who support individuals and families bereaved by substance use death. Led by Laura Bradbury, LCSW, PhD, the session explores why grief following an overdose death is uniquely complex — often marked by trauma, stigma, shame, and isolation. Participants will learn to apply the Dual Process Model as a practical grief-literacy tool, use safe and non-stigmatizing language with bereaved individuals, and engage this population with greater confidence and compassion. Whether you work in direct practice, community advocacy, or education, this webinar offers both a conceptual framework and concrete skills for supporting those navigating one of the most misunderstood forms of loss.

Learning Objectives:
-Describe how grief after an opioid or stimulant death is unique and often complicated
-Apply safe messaging principles to reduce harm and stigma
-Understand the Dual Process Model as a grief-literacy tool
-Feel more confident engaging people who are grieving an overdose death with compassion and skill