WHAT ARE WE MISSING?

Stars who lit up screens and music charts and changed the lives of millions were misusing substances to cope with mental health issues

-  ALICIA CLEMENS

First comes the shock and disbelief. Then, the questions: "When? How? Why?" And, of course, there's the pain. Sometimes, no matter how much time passes, the pain remains.

When a beloved celebrity dies from causes connected to substance misuse, family, friends and even fans imagine how things could have been different.

While there are programs that specifically treat substance use or mental health issues, treatment plans created to address both together are far less common. Yet, one in two people with substance use issues also struggle with mental health challenges, known as co-occurring disorders. It's a reality that Stephanie Marquesano, whose son, Harris, died of an accidental overdose 10 years ago, is working to address and to change.