On her first day of Intro to Psychology in 2012, Mia* struck up a conversation with a fellow freshman named Jack. The two formed a friendship and then a relationship. Eventually, they got married.

During one of the happiest times of the year, as people reunite with their loved ones and celebrate well into the cold, dark nights of winter — for some the holiday season is undercut with sadness.

NEW ORLEANS — Dr. Elyse Stevens had a reputation for taking on complex medical cases, including people who'd been battling addiction for decades. Some were chronic-pain patients on high doses of ...