Disease of Addiction

Gail Cole lost her 22 year old son Brendan on January 4, 2014 to an accidental heroin overdose.  In  March 2015, she Co-founded Hope and Healing after an Addiction Death, a bereavement group in Bergen County for those who have lost a loved one to the disease of addiction.  Gail is passionate  about educating both parents and students about the dangers of opioid pain medication and to  remove the stigma and shame associated with addiction and mental illness.  From  April 2014 through 2020, she has spoken with the Bergen County Prosecutos Office, as well as on many  panel discussions, sharing  Brendan's story.  in 2017, Gail and her husband Brian worked closely with HBO director Perry Peltz  and was one of the four families  featured in the HBO documentary, "WARNING:  This Drug May Kill You."