Aimee Dunkle’s tragic loss of her son Ben to a heroin overdose in 2012 haunts her to this day. Despite having a friend present during the overdose, fear of legal repercussions prevented the call for medical help, resulting in Ben’s untimely death. Now, more than a decade later, as opioid overdoses continue to ravage communities across the U.S., Dunkle and other bereaved families are advocating for compassionate approaches to drug use, emphasising treatment over punishment. They argue that punitive measures only exacerbate the crisis, pushing those struggling with addiction into a cycle of incarceration rather than providing the support they desperately need.
Despite legislative efforts to increase penalties for drug-related offences, families like Dunkle’s are calling for evidence-based solutions, including access to naloxone and needle exchanges, decriminalisation of drug use, and expanded education on opioid addiction. As the nation grapples with the opioid epidemic, Dunkle urges a shift towards empathy and understanding, emphasising the importance of saving lives over punitive measures.