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

He was a lovable person who had a disease that we as a family fought to help him overcome. He loved his family deeply and yes made mistakes. The disease did not define him, his love for music and his family did

When he went into the ocean in Gloucester with my mom on her birthday and then taught my daughter (his niece) how to hoverboard

Scaring each other, him taking the last coffee pod, having him listening to music on the deck. His time spent with us. He will always be my big little brother. Our 8;15 on a 7:30 schedule. The pie in the face. His laugh. 💜

As a good person who had a disease but had family support. I picked him up from court on a Tuesday and he was gone by Thursday and he had nothing in his system. He will forever be a guardian angel

Matthew loved the outdoors, camping, and fishing. He had a wonderful sense of humor and made friends everywhere he went.

Spending time fishing with him, and our grandparents, and parents as children.

Matthew will be remembered for his humor, his love of the outdoors, and the lasting impact he had on those who knew and loved him. Even though he struggled with addiction for much of his life, he never gave up trying to become and stay sober.

He was one of the smartest people I have ever met. John had a great sense of humor, and loved making me and our children laugh.

Him taking me and the kids to our first Mardi Gras parade. He made it so fun for us, putting the kids on his shoulders so they could catch more toys and things

The long talks we used to have. We would sit and talk about anything and everything. Sometimes for hours at a time.

He would want to be remembered as a loving family man. He would never want his life to be remembered for his battles with addiction, but rather by how deeply he loved.

Drew was a very kind soul. Always reaching out to help others. He was a recovery specialist and saved many lives. He had over 3 years of sobriety and left this world a true hero by donating his organs. He saved 5 people by this ultimate gift.

One day when we were taking care of finances, he lost his wallet. As I was freaking out, he was very calm. He put his hand on my shoulder and said “Mom, are you working your program?” We both laughed.

His laugh. His kindness. His smell. EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!!

As someone who made a difference in the field of recovery!

Carol was a classic beauty, generous, vicious, and completely lovable. A mother, daughter, bestie's as a sister, and a sister to her besties.

On every video that she recorded in her youth she narrated the entire process.

How she engaged with her children. We miss her laughing at herself out loud!

As a person who made a difference for the positive in the lives of those she touched.

Always able to put a smile on anyone’s face and turn the whole day around. His heart was bigger than any, and he could show love to anyone who crossed his path. To know him, was to be blessed with his presence.

His laugh, hugs, and ridiculous jokes that always got at least a chuckle out of everyone. He was always willing to try something new and have fun and be there for his family.

Ryan had it all outwardly. But inside, he never felt like he fit in. While in college, Ryan started experiencing anxiety and depression and was prescribed benzodiazepines. Then he broke his wrist skateboarding and was prescribed oxycodone. Ryan found that the drugs made him feel better. He had been inwardly facing difficulties with his addiction. He moved to another state for his job. He was there for six weeks. At first, everything was great, but then he started feeling anxious and depressed. He decided to use drugs again. He bought pills from a new friend. They were pure fentanyl, and he overdosed and died.

Everything

Ryan was a gifted soul who felt too much.

Funny tender hearted could talk to anyone friends loved him

Him being silly with his daughter and how he kept trying to get better

His sense of humor and his laugh and his handsome face

As someone everyone liked and not for his problems

Brayden had only been 18 a few months before he was taken away…he was so full of life. He had the most beautiful smile you could ever imagine

One of my favorite (but the most sad) memories is really a picture that I found when looking for pictures for his funeral…it’s a picture of him walking ( he had only been walking a short time) at the park and I caught a pic of the back of him as he was trying to get to the slide or swing—who knows now. But it makes me ALWAYS remember that we are not guaranteed to have a long time to get this thing called life right. In the snap of a finger it or they or you can be gone forever. Live accordingly

Him saying “Mama” as a 17 year old boy who still needed his mom

My sister was a force of nature — loud, rambunctious, and wildly full of life. She gave herself to others with unbridled energy, always the first to jump in, joke, challenge, and lift people up. Her laughter was contagious; her presence made every room brighter and every day more adventurous.

Her life was accidentally cut far too short, and we are devastated. Family and friends miss her fiercely — there’s an ache where her bold spirit used to be. She still had so much more to give, but even in the time she had, she left a lasting impact: unforgettable memories, daring kindnesses, and the kind of love that pushes you to be braver and live louder.

Though she’s gone, we carry her spark with us — in the stories we tell, the risks we take, and the way we refuse to settle for ordinary. We’ll honor her by living as she did: loudly, generously, and without apology.

My favorite memory of her is those late-night chats when neither of us could sleep. We'd stay up past midnight playing games or just talking, the house quiet except for our laughter. In the dim light we traded silly stories, dared each other, and slipped into the kind of honest conversation you only have in the small hours—sharing hopes, fears, and our deepest secrets. She was loud and joyful even then, turning ordinary nights into adventures with her quick jokes and sharp curiosity. Those talks felt like our private world, where I always felt understood and fiercely loved. Whenever I close my eyes, I hear her voice, and those nights remind me of who she was: fearless, generous, and utterly alive.

What I miss most about her is everything she didn’t get to do—so many moments she deserved but never had. I miss her wild, rambunctious energy, that fearless spark that made ordinary days feel like adventures, and the way her smile could light up a room. I miss our late‑night chats and the private world we shared, the jokes, the secrets, and the easy way she could turn boredom into laughter. Every new opportunity I face brings a surge of wanting her beside me to celebrate it. I miss her voice, her laugh, her daring kindness—truly, I miss every part of her.

I remember Kelly — my sister, the family’s favorite daughter, a devoted mother to Noah, Hana, and Gabe, a loving friend, and a woman full of Life . She was bold, generous, and touched everyone she encountered ; as a compassionate nurse she touched many! We honor her and many other Angels every year at the Overdose Awareness 5K / 1‑mile Remembrance Walk! This event offers a place for those to Recover out Loud and Celebrate their loved ones! August 29,2026! 🙌 https://runsignup.com/OADAY5K

She could always just make me laugh and cry

Our birthday month November we always celebrate together

Having her make the best of a bad situation

As a queen and a goddess

A beautiful soul always thinking of others...so kind and funny...never hurt anyone ..except himself through addiction. Many times in rehab. College degree, very smart ..tried so hard...viscious circle..addiction..recovery..relapse..rehab..clean...heaven💜

Him singing the loudest at church...getting everyone excited and singing along ...smiling ...with him arm around his mama( me )

The love you, mama .the back cracks, our nightly talks, his incredible spirit and inspiration. He always picked people up around him..even tho he was suffering

As the brightest light and kindest soul .. a man who wanted so much more ....but addiction won... But I believe he is in Heaven with his beagle, Skippy... and I know I will see him again ..his soul was too beautiful for this Earth ...he was born an angel 😇

Everything

Joey was my favorite brother growing up. He helped anyone that needed it and he cared more than anyone I've ever known.

Our last Christmas with Mom. We were all together and happy.

His strong beliefs

Good guy

My daughter Abigail was the kind of daughter people dreamed of having. The most important thing in the world to her was family, especially her little bro who was 4 when she died, almost 15 yrs apart but their bond was such a beautiful thing to see..

It’s hard to pick just one. But one that stands out is when I told her she was going to be a sister. We were driving and she just started screaming and crying. She has always wanted a sibling and at almost 15 she got one. Her brother Kaden was the most important thing in the world to her. Instead of going out with friends like most teenagers she said she would much rather be at home with him. Her bestie 4 life she always said.

Seeing her play with her little brother . Seeing the love she has for him. Hearing her say love you Mama. The way she would still cuddle with me even at 19 years old.

I think the most important she would want people to remember about her was how much she loved her little brother and the rest of her family. And how goofy she was. Also to never forget that she would always kick everyone but at monopoly

Very honest, kind, and very compassionate. Anthony felt everything to his heart. He's very much missed and loved

Being on vacation in Florida just the two of us. I miss his laughter

Hood laugh and kindness

As a kind living family member with some problems

He has 3 brothers. He was the protector, glue that held them together, they all felt loved and heard by Max. He wanted more than anything to be an attorney, be loved deeply and have a family.

There are so many! He went shopping with me in the city and he carried all my bags and watched out for me all day. When he played with his baby cousin in his walker and when he would sit with my mother and talk with her when she was at the infusion center getting treatment.

His zest for life and his Joy.

As a kind and compassionate soul who stood firmly for what she believed in.