The National Addiction Memorial honors the loved ones we’ve lost.

Richard was a very giving person. Always wanted to help someone sicker than him.

Matthew was our only son. He had an older and younger sister. He was the most loving, loyal sweet soul.

He had this gift of being easily likeable and he was the favorite person of many peoples to talk to and hang out with. He had a lot of advice, and was hilarious. He always played practical jokes on everyone. He was very sweet and always helped when someone was in need. I love him very much and I miss him. He passed away less then one month shy of his 35th birthday. He was born November 20th, 1981 and passed away October 25th, 2016. That was the worst day of all of our lives. My mom lost her only son, and I lost my only sibling and brother. I wish he could come back, and wish everyday that he could.

A letter to one of Mandy's NA friends: Sorry for the delay in getting this to you. I am so grateful that you were there at Mandy’s viewing. It’s very strange for me to know Mandy’s gone, but I’m glad she doesn't hurt anymore. I’m glad she had a short time to know what it was like to have a regular life. I knew there would be a day where she’d be gone long before I would, but knowing did not make it any easier. I never expected hers would be the first obituary I’d write. Thank you for letting me know my family and I were not the only ones trying to help her. We got the autopsy report back this week. It confirmed the combination of meth and alcohol was the cause of death. Part of me wanted to believe this wasn't the case, but I knew better. I didn't want Mandy to be just another statistic. I’m hoping this will impact someone else’s life in steering them away from drug abuse. Although I cannot personally understand addiction, I have witnessed multiple other people just as close to me as Mandy go through the same thing. I know the battle is internal and one of the most difficult, constant fights a person can experience. All I know is my family and I won’t allow ourselves to give up on those going through this fight. Once we do, the person has lost half the battle. I pray this letter finds you well. I pray you and I will both find the peace we are looking for. Most of all, I pray that we can create so much good in the world from losing Mandy. _____________________ Mandy was abusing pills as a young teenager and had moved to meth and heroin by the time she was 21. By then, she had also lost custody of her two girls who were younger than 2-years-old. When her girls became teenagers themselves, their only dream was to meet their birth mom. They sadly finally met Mandy at her viewing. Mandy was strong and clean for the last 9 months of her life. She was starting to work on her GED, had her first job, and had hope in her eyes. "

Aaron was a kind big hearted sensitive soul who would do anything for you. He was a tremendously talented athlete. He wanted to be a man and tried to learn the hard way,.

Beloved, brilliant, kind, only child of Pam and Ken. Forever loved, forever missed.

Funny from a young age, he used humor to offer humanity and respect to all. A bright eyed child who embraced life in all its glory, he played ice hockey despite growing up in the desert. Nicknamed "Woodstock" for his likeness to the Charlie Brown character, his blond hair sticking out from his helmet and his small feet deflecting pucks, Bobby Orr was his inspiration. Later he loved woodworking, creating things with his hands. His garden bounty found its way to his ever ready BBQ as the neighborhood grill master. Known as the ""machine whisperer"", Jim could coax outdated machinery into working again and again. Fishing was a favorite past time along with creating havoc with fireworks with his uncles. Where ever he lived, Jim fished often leaving his catch in the sink for his mom to clean (which wasn't well received.) Known as someone who would give away his last cigarette, his last bite of food or warm jacket, Jim never met a stranger. Even now people seeing his picture tell me they know him. Fascinated by learning he followed history and conspiracy theories. Jim loved to read Stephen King, John Grisham and any car or household repair manuals. Without a lazy bone in his being, he loved helping others solve problems especially if it involved a car, a household appliance or any piece of equipment. Jim was my best travel pal, my beloved son and best teacher of life's realities. I believe he continues to guide me from his place of healing and peace."

She was a bright and shining light as a child--intelligent, imaginative, sweet, full of joy. Beautiful blue eyes, dark brown hair, fair skin--what they call "black Irish". She was loving and compassionate-to humans, animals, all those who crossed her path. She was unique, magical, amazing. And, oh, so much loved, and forever missed.

Stephen was a son, a brother, an uncle, a godfather, and a great friend. He grew up playing baseball and skateboarding but found his passion for music early on. His favorite times were being in the studio with his friends. He had one gigantic heart and touched the lives of so many people. He is missed every single day.

My daughter Margaret Alexandra (Sasha) Kogan died from the combined effects of alcoholism and bulimia, November 19th, 2012. She was 28 years old. A wonderful pianist and visual artist. She was masterful in costuming and was often her own canvas filled with many expressions. Sasha was in the 2002 Who's Who in American High schools. I would like to see a book about Who America Has Lost. Including examples of their art, music their writing,poetry, design, and their performances in the temporal arts. I have not only lost my daughter, we have all lost a next generation of potential. Young women who will never have children. Parents who will never have grandchildren. I have experienced the deaths of my children's friends. The number of their friends that have died due to drugs and alcohol in their twenties out number the number of my age friends that have died in my 69 years. Addiction is an epic tragedy to all families and friends; all are driven by epic purportions of ignorance across the nation and around the world. There is no shame in being ill. "

Michael loved sports especially football. His favorite teams were BYU, and Chicago Bears. We went to a BYU game when he was 5 years old and saw Jim McMann play, it just seems like yesterday. We all stood up when Jim threw a touch pass and Mike spilled his drink on a fan in front of him and the man turned around and hugged him. Happiness for the touch down overwhelmed us all. At eight years old he played little league football as running back, until he was in 9th grade. He had loosing seasons and winning ones, and I coached his 10 year old team we won six games and lost 3. In the last game Mike played his hart out carrying the ball and most of the time and getting a first down on his own to set up the score to win the game. His last year he played his team when undefeated and won the ninth grade state championship. Unfortunately his hart grew big about the game but his body was so small. He stood about 5ft then well below his teammates height of 6ft or higher. Yet he did his best cheering on the sidelines for his teammates. We enjoyed watching the sports together and often when to games together. He graduated from Copperhills High School and learned to read. He read a novel a week mostly about vampires, monsters, and zombies, and collected comic books about the same type of novels. He loved the outdoors and hiking and fishing. His uncle took him on a hike across the Uinta Mountain range and loved fishing at Crystal Lake. He walked everywhere or rode his bicycle. He had a very kind hart and love his grandma very much. He want so much to help her as she grew older by painting her bedroom and helping his uncle cleaning up his yard a few days before his death he had called them to make plans for the spring clean up. We enjoyed movies together and went often. His favorite movies were the Lord of the Rings, Hobbit, Star Wars and horror movies. I liked Star Trek, which he did not like but he went with me to all of them just because he loved me.

Nathan was the most loving and caring person. Funny, quick witted and always had an ear to listen to any ones problems. Nathan had a brain tumor that was removed in 1999. Years of physicians giving him pain meds then suddenly stopping them when in the last year they have been cracking down on physicians giving pain meds forced my son to heroin. His body was already addicted to opiates that had been given to him for the last 13 years.My son suffered from horrible seizures that he had had since the tumor removal, which he lost the right temporal lobe of his brain, paralyzed his left side, took his vision from left of center in both eyes and gave him problems with short term memory. Once the doctors took the pain meds that they addicted him to they left him no other options.

My son, George David Maras ("Georgie"), was my only child, and an addict for 25 years. He was my entire world, and I miss him every minute of every day. He began drinking and smoking pot when he was 13 years old, and escalated to heavy cocaine use by age 15. He was in and out of rehab numerous times, but always relapsed. I saved him many times by sending him overseas to family members. He traveled extensively, and would do well abroad, but always returned home to the same neighborhood. In later years, there were drugs to be found in the countries he would be living in. He was later diagnosed as bipolar, which exacerbated his drug abuse. The drugs would exacerbate his bipolar illness. A car accident in 2002, driving stone drunk, left him with numerous injuries, including a traumatic brain injury. However, Georgie and I shared many beautiful. fun times together during the periods when he was not getting high. These are the moments I focus on in my grief journey. Georgie loved children and loved animals. The children he took care of babysitting are now adults and remember him fondly, with love. Georgie also loved sports and watched football, baseball and basketball every season. He was a wonderful chef, whose delicious cooking could be detected before walking into the apartment. He even created his own secret sauces. At a young age wanted to attend culinary school, but couldn't raise the funds. Georgie was also brilliant in math, and could calculate instantly without using a calculator. He could have been anything he desired, had it not been for the drugs. He fell in love several times, the third time winding up in engagement. Unfortunately, his engagement ended as a result of a manic bipolar episode. His former girlfriends, however, still remember him with love to this very day. Georgie was special, not because he was my son, but because he had so much to offer. All has been lost, as I try to keep his memory alive as long as I can breathe.

Scott was the most caring, compassionate person ever. He was always rescuing stray cats and adopted his dog from the local shelter. He was a gifted musician with his own band. He was a Paramedic and an RN and a very loving son. He was handsome, all the girls loved him. He was an excellent surfer.

Tia was my youngest daughter, she was an amazing person & we were extremely close, her, I & her sister, Kai. She loved to ride horses & we were getting another new horse for her right before she died. She had been out of treatment for 2 months, was finally looking forward to her future, was once again the Tia we all knew & loved. She was so strong & loyal, beautiful & loving, I was so proud of her finally getting clean & was happy she was living back at home with me & her stepfather, Wes. When she was little she was a ball of energy, like a little Sprite or Fairy & she was always smiling & happy & curious. As she grew older she became an adventurous child, very brave & fearless it seemed. She was a natural on a horse & loved animals as I always have & was always bringing home stray or injured ones to add to our already extensive menagerie on our small ""farm"". She was involved in 4-H with her sister & won ribbons in Dog Obedience which she was very proud of. She loved her family & she loved staying weekends at my parents house which was my childhood home & located up in the foothills of Mt. Hood & 3 miles off of the paved road surrounded by forest & no neighbors but beautiful property with orchard, ponds stocked with trout, huge yards & gardens & a large unique home that she loved as I had growing up. As she got older she began experimenting with pot & alcohol which worried me as her father was an abusive alcoholic & I worried about her. She had some self esteem problems & would say things like, ""You want me to be like Kai"" or ""Everyone thinks Kai is the 'good' one"" & I couldn't convince her that I DIDN'T love her less than her sister nor did I WANT her to be the same, & that I loved how unique & different they each were! I wish I could've convinced her of how much I loved her & her sister equally & that all I EVER wanted for my children was for them to be happy. We spoke every day, I could talk to her about ANYTHING & miss her every second of every day..."

Matthew was my son, my only child. He died when he was 27 years old of an overdose of alcohol/fentanyl. He was smart, personable, well spoken and good looking. He had an amazing sense of humor and as a good friend puts it a ""shit eating grin"". He and I were close as single Moms of only sons can be. We shared a love of reading and traded books back and forth frequently. We knew what kind of movies the other liked and traded Netflix recommendations. We also went to the movies together when we could. Matt grew up for his first 9 years or so on Cape Cod in Massachusetts. He loved the beach and being outdoors. Much later when he lived in the western mountains of North Carolina he still loved being outside, hiking and climbing. My best memories are of times when we were both relaxed and enjoying each others company. I can pinpoint two vacations that are my best memories, one when he was around 14 to the hill country of Texas and another beach vacation to Cape Charles, VA with his then girlfriend Christina. I miss him more than I can explain. He will always be my boy."

Bryan went to Dana Hills High School. He was a happy boy. He had a great sense of humor. He cared about others and had a giving spirit. Everyone loved him. Bryan loved life.

Ryan had a HUGE heart and a huge smile. Shortly after his death, we received a letter from an elderly man who lived about a mile away...on a very snowy day, Ryan was driving by this man and noticed him struggling to shovel his driveway after a serious snowstorm. Ryan stopped his car, took the guy's shovel, and finished the driveway. Sums it up!

"Our Michael, ""Bubby"" as his Grandma Jane called him and ""sandman"" as some of his friends called him had lived at both the top and the bottom. He was a brilliant student, had double AA's and was about to graduate from Cal State Fullerton. He was a surfer, snowboarder. Baseball player and fisherman. At his memorial he was called by dozens ""THE BEST Friend, always there for them"". He was a dedicated family member, and he loved each of us. He was also a heroin addict. He did not start out shooting up heroin, he started smoking and smoking pot. He followed a road paved with disappointments and tears, his own and those of the people who loved him. His addictions drove his life to places that those of us close to him can't imagine. We asked ourselves many times how can a guy with SO MUCH potential be in this place? We ALL loved him, we prayed for him and we encouraged him to go to rehab and get professional help, to be able to STAY clean. But he knew better, he could handle IT. Just after Christmas preparing for some medical tests because his body could not keep food in or weight on he shot up one last time in the bathroom of the home where he had lived with his grandparents since he was 16. They could not get through the locked door when they heard the seizure start. Grandma Jane could not do CPR like she had before to bring him back from where the devil drug had taken him. This time our Bubby was gone, forever. If you are an addict and are reading this PLEASE realize you are NOT invincible. You can NOT do this long term on your own! There IS help, free help for those who are willing to make the changes necessary! Please don't put your ""grandma Jane"" in a position to save you... Only YOU can make the decision to seek help, and save yourself! Grandma Jane and I will be right there in spirit Cheering you on! Choose Life! "

Charlie was 24 when he died. A smart, talented, funny, good-looking young man, he was working as a mentor in an internship program for young adults. This was the second time he had begun to be successful in a similar position. He was just starting to think about going back to school to get a degree in psychology or social work or perhaps a certificate in addictions counseling. He always got great deal of satisfaction from helping others. In spite of being in a new school at the beginning of eighth grade, he organized an ice cream sundae sale to raise money for children of first responders in New York City whose parents lost their lives on 9/11. Writing and performing his own music was Charlie's passion. He often said that in his struggle with alcoholism, it was his music that held him together. A self-taught guitarist, he recorded his first album, ""This Morning’s Evening"" when he was 16. "