When a Family Member is a Drug Addict - Your Worst Fear Realized - Heather Margiotta Ep 37

Constantly Under Construction with Donna Harris

Heather and I both have brothers who died from a drug overdose with heroin. But our connection is deeper than a tragedy. We both have a grief bond that allows us to see purpose in our pain. Heather’s brother was her best friend. A funny, vibrant guy that ‘would try anything once’ is how she describes him. Her love for him is evident as she recounts his good-nature and her big brother affection for him. He even shared with her the treasure of salvation in Jesus. As teens, they both learned to walk the path as new Christians. Heather says they remained best friends even when he pulled away from walking the “church life”. Heather’s brother's addiction was started when got a Staph infection. The medication that was prescribed started him on the road to pill additcion, which funneled into an addiction of heroin. Heather was shocked the first time she heard of his addiction. Because she felt so uninformed and was naive to drugs, it was hard to accept the reality of how her brother was deeply trapped by addiction. An addiction that put him on a tumultuous rollercoaster his last few years and ultimately ended in his death. Heather and I both connect over our loss and I share a bit about the love of my brother as well. The best part of this episode is hearing someone else validate my feelings that my brother's addiction did not define who he was. And if you have a person in your life struggling with addiction, it doesn't define them either.