In the last twelve months, nearly 110,000 Americans died of an overdose. Researchers in the American Journal of Public Health found that more than one in eight Americans had their lives disrupted by a drug overdose death. Now, two mothers who understand addiction are collaborating to remind us that this can happen to “good” families and there are other solutions we should consider as we move forward to address addiction and overdose.

 Pat Roos is a liberal university professor. Christina Dent is a conservative-evangelical Christian. There are many differences between them from age and hometowns to educational backgrounds, religion, and politics. But both mothers have been on journeys to better understand addiction and the overdose crisis. Through that process they have become activists. Despite their differences, Roos and Dent are remarkably similar in the kinds of solutions they see for the overdose crisis: harm reduction methods and moving from a punishing criminal justice approach to one based on public health.

Pat Roos

Christina Dent

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