Feeling guilty is very common after all drug and alcohol related deaths.

When you did not know about your loved one’s use before they died, you may also feel very guilty that you missed signs that they were already using drugs or alcohol, or had problems and were using drugs or alcohol to cope. 

You may have spotted your loved one acting strangely, or had suspicions and decided to ignore them, or put off a confrontation.

You may find yourself questioning your memories, and wondering what you could have done differently.

Coming to terms with feelings of guilt [1.8] can be a big part of coping with a drug or alcohol related death.

We need to learn to accept that we cannot change the past, and that we could not make choices on behalf of our loved ones. 

You can read more about grief and about how others have coped, on other pages in this section [grieving].

You can also find out more about practical issues [practicalities] or how to get support [get support].