Poll: 1 in 10 American adults have had family member die of drug overdose
An East Islip mother whose son died of a heroin overdose in 2013 when he was 21 started a foundation to help other families who are battling addiction, find and access resources.
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Nearly one in 10 adults in the country say they have had a family member die of a drug overdose, according to a poll released Tuesday.
The poll conducted by KFF, a health policy research group, also found that two-thirds of people say either they or a family member have been addicted to alcohol or drugs, experienced homeless due to addition or experienced a drug overdose leading to an emergency room visit, hospitalization or death.
An East Islip mother whose son died of a heroin overdose in 2013 when he was 21 started a foundation to help other families who are battling addiction, find and access resources.
Kathy Koenigsdorf says the poll numbers likely only tell a small part of what people are dealing with when it comes to addiction.
“If we help the families understand what’s happening, if we help the families understand how to be a good, healthy support system for those people, the outcomes are astronomically better,” Koenigsdorf says.
She says anyone who is or knows someone struggling with addiction should try to find help in-person like a support group or a person they can talk with.
To see the entire results of the survey, click here.
