Terry Almanza knows a thing or two about gangs, drugs, and organized crime. She spent nearly three decades with the Chicago Police Department, following a long family tradition of public service. But after her teenage daughter died from an overdose, Almanza says she was devastated by how law enforcement handled the case.

Now, she’s traded her badge for advocacy. Terry believes too many drug dealers are getting away with murder — and she’s calling on others to push for stronger laws and accountability in their communities.

She went on to form the Drug-Induced Homicide Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting families like hers and driving change. In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, Terry shares her daughter’s story, what she’s learned about addiction through both her career and her grief, and what it took to speak out against the very system she once served.

Learn more about Drug-Induced Homicide Foundation here: https://poisoningofamerica.org/

If you enjoyed this episode, you may like the following: 

• A grieving father’s fight to bring deadly drug dealers to justice
• Coping With Grief and Choosing Life After Tragedy
• He Wanted Justice for His Son, So He Became the Investigator

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Behind every number is a story of a life cut short, a family shattered, and a community devastated.

They were...

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Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz