A Maine family decided to confront their son's addiction in his obituary, instead of sidestepping their son's disease, in the hope that they can help other families.
The first draft of the obituary did not mention the cause of death, but the family revised it to indicate that their loved one died from an overdose.
"Ryan Douglas Bossie, 27, died January 30, 2015, in Portland after losing a hard-fought battle with addiction," the obituary began. "He was born in Ft. Myers, Florida on May 5, 1988 as the son of Rick and Malene (Doody) Bossie. Ryan attended Caribou High School and Northern Maine Community College and was known as a charming, curious, hardworking, and resourceful person by many."
The Bangor Daily News noted that an acknowledgement of death due to drug addiction is rare in an obituary.
"I just said I don't think we should be ashamed of this," Ryan's 31-year-old brother, Andrew, told the paper. "It's better than sweeping it under the rug and I think if it helps someone else, then fantastic."
Ryan struggled with heroin addiction for years, and had overdosed on six prior occasions. "It was truly a struggle," Andrew said. "I hope that by including that [in the obituary] maybe it helps someone else just a little bit, that their story has a different ending."
Ryan openly discussed his addiction and attempts at staying clean with his family members, and Andrew said his brother had no qualms about where he was headed if he did not stay sober.
"We talked about Ryan's death before he died," Andrew recounted. "That was really important, I feel, to being able to keep our family close and have Ryan feel supported."
Confidential and free assistance is available 24 hours per day, every day, through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357). Treatment locations are also available on their website.
