This year, we are marking International Black Balloon Day on March 6th. Every year, families, friends, and our team at MQI come together to honor the precious lives of those we have lost to drug overdose.

Any parent who has lost a child will tell you that time doesn’t heal the pain—you simply learn to cope better. Whether a loss is sudden or due to illness, Irish communities always rally together to support grieving families. But what if that child’s life is lost to an overdose?

The painful truth is that when a child is lost to addiction, the stigma surrounding it is so real that families often feel ashamed. As a result, their sadness and grief become even heavier burdens to bear.

As a country, we need to change this—we must act now. Addiction is a national health crisis, leaving families and communities devastated. No one should have to carry the weight of stigma on top of the deep trauma they are already enduring.

We must stand together, offering compassion and support to these families. As parents grieve the loss of a child—as siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends mourn—we must let them know they are not alone.

This Black Balloon Day, let’s break the stigma and show our solidarity.