Substance-Related Grief Support

*Updated as of April 15th, 2024

*Siblings Grief Group is going to switch to ZOOM!

Live4Lali uses this Zoom link for all virtual support meetings: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86722767365. All are welcome to attend online meetings. 

After loss, life goes on. You don’t have to go through it alone.
There is no worse pain in the world than losing someone you love. We will all experience loss throughout our lives, but tragedies like substance-related deaths including overdoses, suicides, intoxicated driving incidences, or homicides come with insurmountable odds to face. Some of these deaths come after a long battle with substance misuse, following long periods of abstinence from substance use, or at the beginning of substance use or misuse. But, most are accidents, and all of them are side effects of an illness. In December 2016, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention reported that overdose deaths have surpassed gun violence including homicides and suicides, and car crashes as a leading cause of accidental death. 192 people die daily from overdose. So, what happens to the loved ones left behind? No one should walk through grief alone.

How we can help
If you or someone you care about has experienced substance-related grief, there are options:

Become an Angel Mom
Located in the Chicagoland area is Angel Moms. Get unlimited support from a local community of women who have lost children to a substance-related death. Email Jody Daitchman at [email protected] for more information. To learn more about these incredible women, check out this video:

Attend a Local Grief Support Group

Arlington Heights – Live4Lali
Day/time: 4th Wednesay of each month at 7:00 PM via Zoom!
Location: Virtually via GoToMeeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86722767365
Contact: Jody Daitchman – 844.LV4.LALI (584.5254) x801

Addison – LTM Heroin Awareness & Support Foundation
Day/time: 3rd Thursday of each month – 7:00 PM
Location: Contact Felicia for more info
Contact: Felicia Miceli – 630.339.6106

Barrington – JourneyCare
Day/time: Mondays – 10:00 AM, Thursdays – 6:30 PM
Location: Pepper Family Hospice CareCenter, 405 N Lake Zurich Rd, Barrington, IL 60010
Contact: JourneyCare – 224.770.2273

Central Illinois – GRASP Chapter
Day/time: 2nd & 4th Tuesday of each month – 6:00 PM
Location: Contact Susan for more info
Contact: Susan Tisdale – 309.267.5995

Chicago – GRASP Chapter
Day/time: 1st Thursday of each month – 7:00 PM
Location: Swedish Covenant Hospital, Anderson Pavilion – Titus Johnson Room, 2751 W. Winona Avenue, Chicago, IL
Contact: Michelle – 847.275.7510 (please call to pre-register)

Chicago – JourneyCare
Day/time: Wednesdays (starting May 23) – 6:00 PM
Location: 833 W. Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60642
Contact: JourneyCare – 224.770.2273

Glenview – JourneyCare
Day/time: Wednesdays, 6:30 PM
Location: Robert H. & Terri L. Cohn Campus, 2050 Claire Ct, Glenview, IL 60025
Contact: JourneyCare – 224.770.2273

Gurnee – GriefShare
Day/time: Mondays – 6:00 PM
Location: Joy! Lutheran Church, 749 S. Hunt Club Road, Gurnee, IL 60031
Contact: Dean Thorson – 847.362.4569

Gurnee – GriefShare
Day/time: Sundays – 6:30 PM
Location: Village Church of Gurnee, 1319 N. Hunt Club Road, Gurnee, IL 60031
Contact: Dave Hoke or Sandy Slota – 847.244.6606

Hoffman Estates – GRASP Chapter
Day/time: 1st Tuesday of each month – 7:30 PM
Location: SHARE, 1776 Moon Lake Blvd, Hoffman Estates, IL
Contact: Mary Thrasher – 847.397.1431

Naperville – Gone Too Soon
Day/time: 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month – 7:00 PM
Location: Wheatland Salem Church, 1852 95th St, Naperville, IL 60564 OR via Zoom
Contact: Kathi Davies – 630.309.1361, [email protected]

Steger – GRASP Chapter
Day/time: 3rd Saturday of each month – 9:00 AM
Location: ST. Liborius School, Second floor, 3436 Halsted Blvd, Steger, IL 60475
Contact: Melissa Jozwiak – 708.979.0490

West Chicago – GRASP Chapter
Day/time: 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month – 6:30 PM
Location: Contact Terri for more info
Contact: Terri Roman – 630.408.3178 (please call to pre-register)

Grief Support Resources