When my son died from an overdose, my husband and I grieved differently. But we were determined to keep our marriage intact.

My son, Alex, struggled with a drug addiction and died from an overdose. My husband and I grieved differently; I took a more public approach. We were determined not to let Alex's death destroy our marriage.

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You can opt-out at any time by visiting our Preferences page or by clicking "unsubscribe" at the bottom of the email. Advertisement My husband Chip and I were sociology professors at Rutgers University, enjoying life in our small town in busy central Jersey. Our son, Alex, was born in 1989, and he quickly captivated us.

We were a typical suburban family , but we were not immune to the hurricane forces of misery that addiction brings. The cracks formed early. The troubles slipped in quietly during the summer of 2002.

When he was 12, Alex developed anorexia. I look at photos and see his smile fading with the pounds he lost. My beautiful boy stopped laughing.

His spirit evaporated. We found a hospital-based eating-disorder unit that would admit males, hoping his anxiety would be treated there. Alex spent months in psychological and nutritional therapy.

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