This Kansas City group offers a space to grieve addiction deaths without shame or guilt

In 2021, more than 2,600 people died of a reported drug overdose in Kansas and Missouri. A Kansas City peer support group is bringing together friends and families who have lost loved ones to substance abuse and addiction.
In March 2020, Dawn Owens' son Josh died after struggling with drug addiction. Owens was living in New Haven, Connecticut at the time but found solace in the peer support group GRASP — Grief Recovery After Substance Passing.

The group provides people who have lost loved ones to addiction and substance abuse a space where they can share their stories and receive mutual understanding and support.

Two years later, Owens moved to Kansas City to be closer to friends and family. Immediately, Owens realized there was an issue. The closest group like GRASP was in St. Louis.