Do you think stating in an obituary that the person died of their addiction is helpful or TMI?

If the fear of death stopped people from abusing drugs then people wouldn’t abuse drugs. Thinking that the consequences will change people’s habits fails to understand the reason why most people get addicted in the first place.

I think it’s up to the family, I don’t know. I don’t think there should be so much shame surrounding addiction, but there is shame and stigma and so admitting it is a factor probably “looks bad.” I just don’t think it should.

From my perspective, it is important to be honest about the cause of death, if you are going to put it in the obit.

When my brother died last November from long term effects of meth use, we did not put the cause in his notice. But we did not gloss over it, either.

It is part of our society’s denial to try and state something other than the truth. But it is better for people to be aware that drinking and drug use are deadly when abused.

I think it could help to lessen the stigma around addiction and seeking help for an addiction. When an obit omits the cause of death (and the person is younger) I tend to assume it was either suicide or an OD since those are the “shameful” causes of death. Being more honest about it could change the perception of it and maybe lead others to seek help.

Not helpful but not unimportant either. An obituary is like the story of one’s life and may include all the grisly details, if the writer wishes.
I have read some outlandish obits, usually by a loved one who embellished it with all kinds of unnecessary crap. Columns of crap! Not even a mention of where the victim went to high school! Sentence upon sentence of how and why they will go to heaven and who will greet them once they get there…
I’m writing my own obit, with all the fun (and true!) details. No hype, no crap.

I find it very moving, personally. A local doctor wrote a beautiful obit for his 20-something son who OD’d. Talked about his stints in rehab, love of family, life and his dog and said something like ‘but the drugs had control, not our son’. Since we have such an addiction problem here, I can only hope his obit and story shared here, helped someone change their mind.

So to me, it seems helpful to be open and honest and show others that it’s killing people from all walks of life, even those who have successfully completed treatment.

I think it is a personal decision by the family, partner or whomever is writing the obit. I’m usually curious as to the cause of death but I don’t think there should be a universal etiquette around it.

If I didn’t know their last wishes, I would not make the details of their death public.
People will continue to abuse their bodies with drugs, alcohol and food no matter who dies of doing that exact thing.

I see an obituary as solely a statement by those remaining. I have seen loving ones, mean ones, neutral ones, and since they are paid for by the party submitting them, anything goes.