As we enter the holiday season, we are reminded that this time of year brings a complex mix of emotions for so many within the VOID community. For families who have lost a loved one to illicit fentanyl or other drugs, the lights shine a bit dimmer, the gatherings feel a bit quieter, and the empty chair at the table becomes a painful symbol
of all that was taken far too soon.
We know this season can reopen wounds and deepen the ache of absence. But we also know that none of us walks this path alone. VOID was created so that families could stand together—shoulder to shoulder—in our grief, our remembrance, and our shared determination to honor those we’ve lost. Even in the midst of sorrow, we refuse to surrender to it.
Every story shared, every presentation given, every young person reached through education, and
every partnership built is part of a larger purpose: to prevent another family from joining this circle of grief. Our mission continues because it must—because the danger of illicit fentanyl and other drugs continues to grow, and because awareness remains one of the strongest tools we have to save lives.
This holiday season, as we honor the memory of our loved ones, we recommit ourselves to that purpose. We continue the work not only for them, but for the families we can still protect.
Together, we can turn grief into action, heartache into advocacy, and remembrance into resolve.
From all of us at Victims of Illicit Drugs (VOID), we offer you our compassion, our solidarity, and our heartfelt wishes for peace, strength, and healing in the days ahead.
You are not alone. We stand with you—today, throughout the holidays, and always.
Happy Thanksgiving!
