Am J Addict. 2026 May 10. doi: 10.1111/ajad.70172. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To describe provider preparedness and experiences engaging families after a patient overdose death.
METHODS: We used descriptive statistics to summarize responses to a national survey of interdisciplinary providers.
RESULTS: Participants (n = 524; 47,937 invited) agreed that providers should communicate with a patient’s family after an overdose death (78.2% agreed), yet few felt very well prepared to do so (22.6%).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Providers inconsistently contacted families despite believing these interactions are opportunities to improve family and provider coping.
SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE: There is a potential need for interventions addressing this discrepancy between providers’ desired behaviors and practice contacting families following a patient death.
PMID:42106972 | DOI:10.1111/ajad.70172
