A eulogy after an overdose

Writing a eulogy after a death from overdose carries a weight that other eulogies do not. There is grief, and there is the shame the culture has put on the family, and there is the long stretch of watching them fight. This page is for that. Honest, gentle, without moralizing.

Recovery-community language

The recovery community has done careful work on language over the last twenty years. Use what they use. Say "died of an overdose" or "died of addiction." The person was not an "addict." The person was a person who lived with addiction. Say "substance use disorder" if a clinical term fits the room. Avoid "abused drugs" and "clean and dirty."

Name it, briefly

Most of the room knows how the death happened. Naming it once relieves the shame the family has been carrying. Then return to the person.

We lost David to an overdose in August. He fought addiction for ten years. Some of those years he was sober. Some of those years he was not. The fight was real, and it was longer and harder than most of us will ever know. What I want to talk about now is who he was between the rounds.

Speak about the person, not the disease

Bring back the small images. The first sober Christmas. The job he loved. The way she sang in the car. The dog. The brother. The hands. The eulogy is about a life, not about an illness.

Honor the fight without making it the whole story

Some families want the eulogy to be a call to arms. Some want it to be silent on the cause of death. Most want something in between. Talk to the closest family member before you write. Ask what they need the room to hear.

Naming recovery support in the room

A brief mention of the SAMHSA helpline near the end can save a life. Many funeral programs now print 1-800-662-4357 at the bottom along with the funeral home address. One sentence at the end is enough.

If you or someone you love is fighting what David was fighting, the SAMHSA helpline is open every hour of every day. David would tell you to call.

Related and adjacent

For death by suicide, which shares some of this terrain, see our piece on a eulogy after suicide. For practical mechanics, see how to write a eulogy. Our local pages cover cities with deep recovery communities; start with Baltimore or the places library.

Common questions

Should I name addiction in the eulogy?

Yes, when you can do it gently. Naming it removes the shame the room has been carrying. One or two sentences is enough.

What language should I use?

Use "died of an overdose" or "died of addiction." Avoid "overdosed" as a verb when possible. Do not use "addict" as a noun. The person was a person who lived with addiction.

Should I mention recovery resources?

Yes, briefly. Mentioning SAMHSA's helpline or a local recovery community at the end of the eulogy can help someone in the room. Many programs now print the SAMHSA line in the funeral program.