Unspoken Victims: At This Camp, Children of Opioid Addicts Learn to Cope and Laugh

Children are often called the hidden casualties of the opioid epidemic. They carry a lot of secrets and shame.

The majority of children at Camp Mariposa in Dayton, Ohio, have parents who are addicted to opioids. The nonprofit group Eluna runs camps in 13 states, many of them in areas hardest hit by the opioid crisis. All of these children have experienced trauma, sometimes abuse and neglect, and a growing number are in foster care. These children often struggle to reconcile the loving parents they remember with who they have become. 

 One of them is 8-year-old C. 

Take a few minutes to learn their stories and hear their pain. To read this touching and heart-wrenching article, click here. 

November Is Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month

Diabetic retinopathy is one of the most common diabetes complications that affects eyes. It's caused by damage to the blood vessels of the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye (retina), according to the Mayo Clinic. 

November is diabetic eye disease awareness month, which is designed to help bring awareness to the eye issues that can develop with diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy usually has no early warning signs. It can be detected only through a comprehensive eye examination that looks for early signs of the disease.

At first, diabetic retinopathy may cause no symptoms or only mild vision problems. Eventually, it can cause blindness. This is why it's so important to spread awareness in your community. 

The condition can develop in anyone who has type 1 or type 2 diabetes. The longer you have diabetes and the less controlled your blood sugar is, the more likely you are to develop this eye complication.

For a full overview of diabetic retinopathy, click here. 

Those left behind: In the aftermath of an opioid death, families find ways to cope

Parents, family and friends come together to discuss their epic battle against opioid abuse after losing loved ones to addiction. They work to reduce the stigma and guilt associated with their trauma and do their best to prevent similar situations from occurring for other families.

From grief to acceptance to the impact of opioid overdoses on siblings, this thoughtfully written article covers the gamut. How do these families pick up their lives and move on after such a loss?

Click here to read the article published by the Daily Hampshire Gazette.