Shattered: Stories of Lives Broken by Substance Abuse and How We Put the Pieces Back Together

“Shattered” is a compilation of personal stories written by those who have been impacted by substance use disorder. Several of the writers lost loved ones to the disease, some suffered from it, recovered, and now have dedicated their lives to helping others, while others have witnessed the effects through their line of work or through personal relationships. Gracie Parker, the book’s youngest writer, and founder of Why Us Kids, a nonprofit focused on raising awareness of the youth mental health crisis in our country, will share her tragic story. She is taking matters into her own hands to help other children struggling with trauma. Ed Bisch and Rhonda Miller are huge advocates for the cause. Ed has fought Purdue Pharma for over twenty years to hold them accountable for not only his son’s death, but for many other families affected by the opioid epidemic. Rhonda started Speak Up for Ben, and the Oasis Community Center after her young son passed away from an overdose. Every day, they shine light on substance use disorder and share resources to help others. All of the writers want to help those struggling by speaking out about their experiences to encourage them to do the same. They wish to break the stigma surrounding the disease in hopes of creating a better future.

Read More

View Less