Journeying Toward Hope: Supporting Her Brother's Recovery from Opioid Use Disorder and Overcoming Stigma Together.
Deanna always looked up to her brother, who is a person with opioid use disorder (OUD). Recently, they've reconnected after 13 years.
"That was probably the first great pain of my life, losing my brother for so long and not knowing where he was."
Today, he is in recovery from OUD, and his treatment includes medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD). Deanna reflects on her role in her brother's recovery and her commitment to overcoming the stigma of OUD that some families and people with OUD experience.
"I have learned that being stigmatized is something that keeps people where they're at and makes them feel like there's no hope. So I'm adamant about being someone that can help him see the positives," Deanna says. "You have to have hope and feel like you're worthwhile."