Families across Pennsylvania who lost loved ones to drug overdoses are urging state leaders to expand grief support services beyond Philadelphia. Many point to the city’s Philly HEALs program as proof that counseling and peer groups can help families navigate the complicated aftermath of addiction-related deaths.
Susan Ousterman, whose son Tyler Cordeiro died from an overdose in 2020, said the Philadelphia program changed the direction of her healing after years of fear and uncertainty. Now she and other parents are asking state officials to extend similar support services to families statewide.
Bereavement Support in Philadelphia After Drug Loss
Philadelphia created one of the first grief programs focused specifically on overdose loss. Philly HEALs began in 2019 after social workers noticed families were grieving alone after drug deaths. The city funds the program so counseling and peer groups remain free.
The program offers several ways for families to talk about loss. Parents, siblings, partners and friends can join small peer groups or meet licensed therapists for individual counseling. Short-term counseling also exists for children and teenagers between ages four and nineteen.
More than 4,000 people have used Philly HEALs since it opened, according to city officials. Program manager Rachel Essy says many families struggle to speak openly about overdose deaths. “Just having a place where there’s no judgment makes a huge difference,” Essy said.
Families Call for Statewide Grief Support in Pennsylvania
Parents who have lost children to overdose say grief rarely ends with the funeral. Many families suddenly face emotional strain, financial pressure and the responsibility of caring for grandchildren. Advocates say statewide services could guide families through those early months when support matters most.
Susan Ousterman said the emotional toll often begins long before a death occurs. Years of chaotic substance use can leave families constantly waiting for bad news. “When you’re living with an adult child in chaotic use, it feels like being shot at in a war,” she said.
Advocates also argue the state should build better connections with medical examiners and funeral homes so families receive help quickly after a death. Without that outreach, many people struggle alone. “If people don’t have that support, you can’t authentically grieve,” Ousterman said.
Using Opioid Settlement Funds to Support Families
Pennsylvania is set to receive hundreds of millions of dollars from national opioid settlements reached with drug manufacturers and distributors. Advocates say some of that money should directly support families after overdose deaths, not only treatment programs for people currently struggling with addiction.
Local groups have already tried smaller efforts. In Bucks County, officials once discussed using up to $150,000 from settlement funds to build a network of grief support groups, though the plan never fully moved forward. Community leaders say that gap still exists.
Supporters argue the funding could also cover practical needs families face after a sudden loss. That includes funeral assistance, counseling costs and short-term care for children left behind. “It impacts the whole family,” Susan Ousterman said. “And we need this more.”
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Another part of the debate now focuses on how quickly support can reach families after an overdose death occurs. Advocates say the first weeks are often the hardest. Without immediate outreach, many relatives face complicated grief without guidance or practical help.
Some health experts also say recovery systems should address the broader ripple effects of addiction. When a parent dies, children, partners and grandparents often carry lasting consequences. Leaders will now decide how these realities shape future support policies.