I lost my son to an opioid overdose. COVID-19 will only bring more deaths of despair.

I always admired the courage and fortitude of grieving parents who turn tragedy into advocacy. This is especially true for Joe Biden. As a young man, Biden lost his first wife and young daughter in a car accident. In 2015, his 46-year-old son Beau died of cancer. Biden also supported his younger son, Hunter, battle addiction. Through his despair, Biden says he learned two things: “First, your loved ones may have left this Earth but they never leave your heart. They will always be with you. And second, … the best way through pain and loss and grief is to find purpose.”

On July 13, 2018, I was called to my own cause when we lost our son Alec to an accidental overdose on his 26th birthday.