Over a decade ago, at the beginning of the opioid epidemic, Cheryl Juaire’s son, Corey, died of a heroin overdose at age 23. She knew little about opioid addiction when Corey struggled, and she didn’t know anyone with a child who had died, let alone from an overdose.
Cheryl and her family grieved alone for two and a half years until they began meeting other parents who lost a child to overdose. This gave her a new perspective on grief, showing how much grieving parents need one another.
Her grief remains, but it now manifests itself in hope and advocacy. That hope is still there despite the death of her second son, Sean, lost to addiction in 2021.
Cheryl works to support families and recognize their loss in a public way by asking Federal and state governments to fly flags at half-staff in honor of Overdose Awareness Day.
"We’re committed to this effort until flags are lowered in all 50 states to honor our loved ones lost to overdose." - Cheryl
How you can help: Send a letter to request that the President directs federal buildings to lower flags to half-staff in support of Overdose Awareness Day to help bring attention to the national overdose crisis and honor the lives lost.
