Founder
Diana Lynn is a mother of four who became a bereaved parent in 2008, when her eldest child, died from an opioid overdose at age 27. Her experience with the disease of substance use disorder did not end there. After struggling with heartbreaking depression and anxiety following the loss of his eldest brother, her youngest child self-medicated through his emotional pain and also succumbed to an overdose from opioids, passing in 2014 at age 22. Her sons’ substance use disorders were rooted from dependency on prescription opioid use and they both died following months of residential treatment and working their recovery.
DIANA IS DEVOTED TO CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR HEALING HEARTS THROUGH SERVICE
FOCUSED ON CHANGING THE FACE OF ADDICTION IN SOCIETY.
Diana is partnering with both organizations and working directly with families to provide compassion, non-judgmental support and essential resource information to help them navigate and support a loved one’s struggle with substance use. Through science and research developed over time, she is grateful to provide known tools and strategies that were not available for her family when they needed them most.
(Go to the HOPE FOR HEALING page to connect with both SHATTERPROOF and the PARTNERSHIP TO END ADDICTION.)
SHATTERPROOF
(shatterproof.org)
Diana has supported Shatterproof as an ambassador from its inception. From advocacy to prevention and treatment, Shatterproof’s mission is to save countless lives by ending the shame, stigma and suffering of individuals and families of those affected by the disease of addiction.
As an ambassador, she actively participates in the organization’s efforts to transform addiction treatment by its demand for utilization of evidence–based, scientific and best practices in order to save lives.
“I lost two of my precious sons to substance use disorders. Being an Ambassador allows me to give them a voice. I am proud to help Shatterproof speak out about stigma, demand evidence-based treatment, and support important policy changes that save lives.” ~ Diana
Shatterproof is leading a collaborative effort on many levels to align the treatment system with effective, proven research.
In Diana’s community she also utilizes Shatterproof tools and youth and family resources to provide educational support for schools and parents. Together with her local coalition, she is a partner providing invaluable outreach with a number of local organizations, including Safe Rx, Hope Rising and women’s recovery housing. In collaboration with these organizations, a studied approach is used in community outreach to support and educate the public on prevention, principles of care, vital harm reduction tools, and family centered treatment and recovery.
PARTNERSHIP TO END ADDICTION
(drugfree.org)
As a Peer Parent Coach for the Partnership to End Addiction, Diana works with parents on a weekly basis to offering support and guidance to families struggling to help their loved one with substance use or addiction. It can be life changing to talk to someone who has gone through this before. By speaking with someone who has “been there,” parents can learn how to stay connected with their loved one and get the support and encouragement they need.
”I witness with each client how beneficial family-centered, peer led and compassionate outreach is for parents who just want to talk to someone who has walked in their shoes. I have found my interactive work as a peer parent coach very meaningful and I am grateful for the opportunity to help parents help their loved ones. I am dedicated to connecting parents with vital services that my family did not have available to us in our time of need. In my work with local families, it is awesome to refer them to the Partnership for much needed individual family recovery resources and services.” ~Diana
Peer Parent Coaches are trained to help parents and caregivers to:
* Understand the reasons why their child/loved one may be using substances
* Learn ways to talk with their loved one about their substance use
* Practice simple strategies that can help promote positive changes in their child/loved one’s behavior
* And focus on self-care as an important part of creating change in their family
The Partnership to End Addiction parent coaching program uses a peer-to-peer, shared experience model using the invitation to Change Approach created by the Center for Motivational & Change (CMC). This is a unique mix of evidence-based principles including Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT), Motivational Interviewing, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.
She has previously served on the steering committee for the FedUp! Rally in Washington, D.C. and participated in its efforts to demand a federal response to the opioid epidemic. As a member of California delegations on Capitol Hill and in Sacramento, she has supported legislation to fund policy measures demanding equal protections and support for people in treatment for substance use disorders and in recovery.
Diana is a retired paralegal and producer of high school musical theater. As a founding member, and local chapter leader of The Compassionate Friends (TCF), she facilitates monthly meetings for parents, grandparents and siblings who have lost a child. She also serves TCF at their annual national conferences as a workshop presenter, panelist and committee member for programs related to a substance related loss. Diana enjoys traveling with her husband and spending time with her adult children and playful grandchildren.
HEALING HEARTS ONE STORY AT A TIME