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

He hated being an addict. He struggled so hard, not wanting to be a disappointment. I hope he has finally found peace.

Weed at 12 and throughout his life, then pills in high school--a knee injury while wrestling in his senior year led to prescribed opioids, then street pills and heroin.
He was ashamed of his addiction and always thought he could beat it...on his own. One of his last texts to me was...
"love u 2 Moms. Don't let fear control you. I know how bad this sounds but I promise I will not make you bury me. I'm going to out live u" ...
He didn't mean to leave us.
It was an accident. Lured by a cunning drug that destroys impulse control, and crushed under the shame and stigma of being addicted. He died in his childhood bedroom behind a lock door that my husband had to kick down.

Michael broke a  vertebrae  in his back his first year in college. He was put on opiates for pain management a few years later. Within two years the pills were not enough and he was addicted. He moved on to cheaper drugs. Drugs that were easy to get. 

He struggled with alcoholism his entire life, but ultimately lost his battle to a heroin overdose at 55.  He battled depression and was self-medicating.  But even through his struggles he displayed love, and valued & nurtured his relationships.  

She had a rough couple years and thats when her addiction went full tilt..put herself in rehab and died of an overdose while rehabbing.

He was diagnosed with Bipolar and Depression from a young age and struggled with Heroin addiction from the age of 17 to his ultimate passing at the age of 30.  He tried multiple rehabilitation methods and was able to stay clean for long periods of time but would usually start using again eventually, especially during times of hardship. This last year he was able to maintain a year sobriety and was in a wonderful place but was unable to fully beat his addiction and we lost him to an overdose earlier this year.  I think knowing his pain and struggle has permanently changed my perspective on addiction.  I witnessed his immense strength and ability to fight for so long and when you think about how many others are going through such hardships, especially those who are alone or lack support, it is heartbreaking.  I think what we can all take away from people who fight against addiction is just how much willpower and effort it takes.  

David struggled with addiction for over 25 years of his life. He started using at a very young age. Throughout the many years of his struggle with addiction he spent a lot of time incarcerated for drug related crimes. David went into rehab programs numerous times. David's fear was of everyone only remembering him as being " that guy David Rice the drug addict." He kept himself away from many family members and friends because he couldn't control the addiction. He just didn't want people to see the ugly side of what this had done to him. As time went on the addiction changed him. It caused him to become depressed and simple daily tasks that we all handle every day would sometimes make David feel overwhelmed, then giving him the excuse to use, to forget about his responsibilities in life for awhile, only to let people down around him who was once again counting on him to live what we all consider a " normal life". He really tried to be that guy. That guy who could beat this demon and show everyone he loved especially his daughter Savannah that he could be all that she needed. His family, including myself enabled David throughout his life and there were times some of us where forced to walk away from David because the pain he caused was to great. David struggled many a nights with his demons and regretted daily the pain he caused to the people he loved. David was more than that guy you knew and heard about who became a drug addict. He was a father, a son, a brother, and a friend. He would want to be remembered for the good he brought to this world and not by his short comings.

Addicted to heroin, and diagnosed with depression, three short term rehab sessions were not enough.

Daniel's addiction started in high school and continued off and on through his adult years. He was pushing four years clean at his time of death. Addiction is something has to constantly be monitored and kept in check, and unfortunately his moment of weakness cost him his life.

Danny struggled for over 16 years, trying to combat the all consuming demon of addiction. It ultimately claimed him as a casualty at the early age of 40.

He used pain meds, some times to the point of overdose at least 4 times... The last time he over did it and used fentanyl, too much of it mixed with xanex. I only put this here as a warning to anyone who might try to do the same.

I didn't know of his addiction until it killed him. Not many did. I seen all the time. Talked to him on the phone everyday. Heroin hit my generation hard. I've lost many. I know the signs. He showed none. I'll never forgive myself for not knowing. I could've saved him. I'm always thinking back, trying to see what I missed. I still can't believe that's how he died. It doesn't make since.

His struggle was unknown

Chris was unable to let people know that he couldn't handle pressure and that he struggled with anxiety. He masked all of this with drugs and alcohol! He heavily drank to unwind and when he was depressed! He detain the use of drugs to give him the high to perform!

My brother's struggle with addiction lasted over half of his life. It started with alcohol in middle school then illicit drugs in high school. At some point he moved to prescription drugs that he supplemented with more illicit drugs. He used the drugs to mask his depression and his anxiety. And he spent a portion of his last summer in rehab. He tried so hard to overcome it. He gave up his job and his house, his friends so that he could stay away from that life. But the drugs kept calling his name and he relapsed. He remained clean for several months but what it all came down to was the 6 days following the relapse. We begged and pleaded with him to see that this time it obviously wasn't under control, that he was taking it too far. But he was stubborn. And he had used for too long so he just knew he had it under control. Except he didn't and now he is a statistic.

Chris was my first born son from a previous marriage. His father is an alcoholic. Chris followed in his father's footsteps and was an alcoholic. He struggled with alcohol for many years. He also smoked marijuana and tried the K 2 spice. He got sober on August 18, 2011. He thought he could help his friend from school who was homeless get off of Heroin. He failed, he died on his 2 year Sobriety anniversary. The addict is still an addict who is currently in jail again facing petty theft, burglary and grand theft charges. He has over 66 cases (that I know of) with the local courts in Ohio. He also has cases in Indiana. Chris is no longer struggling with is addiction.

Chris struggled for many years with his addiction to alcohol. It all started in his early 20's. He tried many different rehabs, treatment centers and recovery programs. He tried really hard and would have good months and then bad months. Good day & bad days. It was a scary cycle. He was homeless at times. sleeping in the woods or who knows where. Not because he had to be.... That is just where his addiction led him on many occasions. During his last months, he was in and out of detox a lot. After 5 days of detox, you are given some options and then back out into the world you go. He was battling but continued to go into treatment and halfway houses. On his last day, he was arrested walking down the road for public intoxication on the morning of the 4th of July. He passed away in jail just 3 hours later. We still don't know all the final details. It is now 7 months later and my family does not have many answers yet. He was a person and every life IS IMPORTANT. I wish he would have been taken to the hospital like in the past when this has happened. He always seemed to bounce back and we would have him with us just a little longer. We feared that death would be his "rock bottom" many times but we never wanted to let go of that little bit of hope that he could get past it. That hope that he would stay in recovery and overcome his addiction. He had future plans set with his family and future plans in place for his current living situation. I know he did not want this. Addiction is real and a very hard disease. Miss him so much.

Charlie has started with a curiosity about drug 13-14 year old. Then when he was on his own, 19-20. He started using coke a lot. Then came the Heroin to bring him down. Once his tried Heroin that was his drug of choice. Many times he would go into rehab but soon after his would be back. He spent time on the streets being homeless and then methadone treatment. He survived od a couple of times and then the last time he was put in jail. 3 weeks clean, he got out. A few days later he was overdosed and gone. I talked to him that day and he was up and talking about the future and excited about his life. All it took was one last dose.

Struggles with learning disabilities and ADD in younger years. Low self esteem which led to harder drugs. Searched for help but the right help was never found. First overdose he was left with disabilities from a stroke. After months of rehab and being clean, he died in his sleep from his second overdose.