Health-based drug policies could have prevented his death. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Friend,

I lost my son, Tyler, to a fentanyl and xylazine overdose in October of 2020. And there's nothing in the world I want more than to prevent other people from going through this.

Tyler had become dependent on opioids. And he repeatedly sought treatment. But I saw firsthand how he faced barrier after barrier in his search for help and healing. It opened my eyes to how desperately we need to change drug policies in this country. And that is true now more than ever.
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Learn more about his story: [link removed]
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Today, I’m a fierce advocate for a public health approach to drug use. I’m sharing my son’s story with you because I know a different approach could have saved his life. Criminalization punished him while he was already suffering and unable to access care. This desperation led to his death. We need to invest in compassionate treatment that addresses the underlying cause of problematic substance use and public health initiatives instead. People who are struggling need care, not more barriers.

I sat down with DPA to share more about:

- The barriers my son faced in his search for help:
[link removed])

- How harm reduction helped us both:
[link removed]

- My message for other parents who have lost a child to overdose:
[link removed]

- What drug policy changes we need to save lives:
[link removed]

- Why we need to decriminalize drugs:
[link removed]

- Why politicizing fentanyl as a border issue is a distraction:
[link removed]

No one should lose a child to overdose. My story is one of far too many. I hope you will share it, so more people can learn what we really need to prevent overdose deaths.
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Learn more about preventing overdose:
[link removed]
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With gratitude and hope,
Susan Ousterman
Mother and advocate

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