Lost 2 more young people in our community

I am faced once again with finding out that people we knew, friends of friends, ex-boyfriends of friends have overdosed on opioids/fentanyl. Some are still dying after the overdoses they took in New Years Day. Perhaps some are still on life support. Two of my daughters have friends who are grieving the loss of loved ones because of drug overdose. How can this be? Young men and women in their late twenties leaving us, dropping out of our lives. As the deep grief enfolds among their friends, and families, we are once again led to ponder on what is it about drugs, alcohol or other substances that lures a person to complete submission of their lives; to the point of death. Many of these people are really good, kindhearted folks. They are finally at peace now, but what about us, who remain; 'the leftovers"?? The finality of their loss, grips us all. We will miss their smile, their productive side, their loving nature, their laughter. They will be the aunt or uncle our children never got to know well. They will be the man who our daughters would have married. They will be the friend that could no longer be there for us on our wedding day. They will be the brother or sister who will be missed from henceforth at every holiday. They will be the ones who never followed their career goals, and left a void in a company for years to come.