I Lost My Sister To Addiction When She Was 44. As 'Just' A Sibling, My Grief Felt Invisible.
By Kelly O'Connor
Published on May 4, 2026.
The author of this article reflects on the experiences of losing her sister, Alicia, to addiction, which she believes is a form of substance use disorder (SUD). Alicia's sister, Jenny, was diagnosed with SUD at 44 and died at the age of 44. Alicia shares her own struggle with addiction and struggles to understand how her family never fully comprehended the issue, never having an honest conversation about it, and enabling her to live without intervention. Alicia reflects on childhood memories of camping with her sisters and their parents and their two children. She feels ashamed for her sister's struggles with addiction but also ashamed for not being educated about it sooner.
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