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

I miss her beautiful smile and the way she could make you laugh on your worst day. She was always smiling, no matter how her day was going. She was a very loving young lady who lost her battle to addiction on September 22, 2015. A day I will never forget.

December 23rd would have been Hope’s 23rd birthday. Instead, we lost her to carfentanil, 100 times more deadly than fentanyl on August 16th. Her father found her dead in her car at the parking lot behind Dillard’s. What’s burned in my mind is the image of her, dead in the hospital, ash grey, with her eyes open and blood running from her mouth. Then we went to the funeral home the next day to see her before she was cremated, which is what she wanted. Her body was frozen, and wax was on her lips to keep them closed. No one can EVER understand the agony of losing your child, EVER! It’s all you think about, all day, every day. Crying, depressed, and there’s nothing anyone can do. We are suffering, realizing that it’s for the rest of our lives. I’m so sorry for all of us that have lost a child. This was MURDER, and I will do whatever is possible to find this person. You have no idea that what you did has ruined our lives. God Bless you Hope Margaret. I only pray that I see you again. I love you more than anything.
Your loving Father and Mother.

Tiffany (TJ) Milner was a vibrant, loving mom. Her daughter was her every breath. She was committed to her community and helping anyone who needed her. She believed in education and was working on furthering her own education. Every day, I miss her smile, her voice, her strength, and wisdom. I miss seeing her with her daughter and all the giggles and laughter. If only I had known her inner battle with opioids due to chronic pain. My heart aches for her.😇

My son was a Beautiful Loving Caring Man. Very talented artist! He is missed in this world by his family and seven siblings here on Earth. Gone but not forgotten! 😇❤️🙏🏼

My sister was smart, beautiful, funny, artistic, authentic, and never on time for anything. She loved food, family, and celebrations.  She had so much goodness in her, and if you talked with her long enough, she'd convince you of the goodness in yourself, too. 

Being judged on account of addiction hurt her deeply. It really is one of the few diseases that people feel they have the right to chastise a person for having.  

Karissa had made so much progress and was excited about her future. She had plans, ideas, and wasn't going to let anything stop her. 

All of that changed when she went to sleep on that August night and never woke up. 

Our lives are forever altered by the void that her absence has left. 29 years was just not enough time. We love you forever, sweet Karissa. 🍀❤

This is my late best friend's daughter. She died of an overdose on 12/14/2017.

I knew Nicole since she was 8, she was 33 when she died. She had drug problems on and off until she went to jail. She maintained recovery for 6 years, but then started dabbling again.

Well her mother, my best friend, died of an overdose on 12/3/2015. Nicole spiraled out of control until she didn't wake up.

This is the last photo she took of herself. It was taken less than 12 hours before her death. She will forever be beautiful, forever 33.

Nicole left behind two boys. I am very active in the youngest son's life since I've been here since his birth. He's seven now and is sad because he feels like he's starting to forget his mommy.

I lost my daughter who was 5 months pregnant from an overdose. She battled heroin addiction 10 years. I miss her laugh, her infectious smile, her heart, and our relationship.

I miss your smile, I miss our talks. I miss everything about you.

My son had struggled with opiate addiction since he was 17. He would do great for years and then something would trigger him. He so much wanted to kick his addiction and be a great father to his three children, Chloe, Lexi, and Timothy. When he was doing well he was so great with them. Several years ago he went to a KC football game with his father and brother and they had the best time ever. He loved his family and would give people the shirt off his back, he had many tattoos to express himself. He was a great mechanic and handyman. We love him dearly and would do anything to have him back.

Meghan would be the only one who could honestly tell her story but unfortunately, she is not here. Her death after 20 years of fragmented treatment tells it all.

Meghan grew up in a middle-class home, was educated and loved. She had talent, loved kittens and excelled in sports. Meghan wished to be married have children but the disease of addiction landed her on the streets hustling for the next fix until it killed her.

Joseph was the most loving child and grew up to be the most caring person with a huge heart. I treasure every moment of the 24 short years we shared together. He was smart, funny and athletic. Sports injuries and prescribed opiates certainly contributed to how he lost his life to this senseless disease. I pray my beloved son is at peace now living a beautiful eternal life and I look forward to our reunion when that time comes. In the interim, in his honor, I will continue my purpose here to help other families struggling with this disease. I have the most powerful Angel guiding me 💙

My sweet baby girl battled addiction for 5 years going in and out of rehab. She had been in recovery for a year and I don’t know what happened the night she overdosed because she was doing so good and seemed so happy.

James was a loving father with a heart of gold. Gis kids meant the world to him. Hw is missed by many. We love you James, may you finally be at peace. I know this is not what you wanted out of life and fought so hard to find peace without drugs. I’m sorry you couldn’t win the battle. I would do anything to have you back.

Jesse was my world and my soulmate. We had a son Grayson who is two and a half years old. Jesse was in recovery for two and a half years also and I just got the call at 4 am a week before Christmas that he was gone. We were living apart at the time but we loved each other so much. We miss and love you, Jesse, always. This is really hard. He left a son behind that he loved very much and heroin took that from him. I’m getting a tattoo this week with “ I love you to the moon and back” — that’s what he would always say to me!

Jamie Grabowski, age 47, passed away at home on August 4, 2012. Born and raised in Wilmington, Jamie was a graduate of Delcastle High School and was a master carpenter and co-owner of Tree Top Builders.

Dustin, you are missed so much by all your family! Especially your Diddy and Mama and Brother Daniel and Britt! We all miss that crooked lil grin and big heart you always had for so many, no matter your struggle💗 Till we see you again I know you are watching over us.

A very talented athlete and singer, songwriter, very compassionate with animals and people with disabilities. Loved his friends and always defended the mistreated. When he was a teen he would ask me why was the world so mean. His heart was so caring. He was a bright light in this cold world. I miss him every day.

My only sibling. Kept his business to himself. Our parents kept his addiction a secret, they thought. While their friends were keeping the same secret. Help was out of the question. All that echoed was David, you’re killing us. They eventually died, years apart. I took my brother in, but the damage was already done. My husband and I did our best. He did recover for a couple of years, but then he stepped off the path. He and I fought cause he brought it into my home, with my children, and was actively using when we walked in from vacation. I called the dealer, told him that was it. He was more important to Dave than me. He moved out and continued to move around. Broke my heart. We never spoke again. One morning I was awakened by the phone call I prayed to never get.”Do you have a brother?” “Yes.” That’s all I remember in clarity. It’s never been the same. It’s one year today. The guilt doesn’t lessen, it grows like a bad weed. The pain and struggles are gone now for Dave. That gets me through 💕