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

My brother struggled with alcohol and drug addiction for 25 years. I chased him all over the country trying to help him break the cycle, clean up the messes he made, and keep him alive. He was the most intelligent person I ever met. He was fun and ingenious. He was my first best friend. After many months in the hospital from a near fatal alcohol and drug overdose, he managed to make 90 days sober. He relapsed late fall 2016. On January 3 of 2017, he had a weak moment from the sheer exhaustion of dealing with addiction and took his own life in front of my parents and I. The only justification I can make out of the whole situation is he died in my arms and not some filthy alley somewhere. My heart aches for him everyday. He used to quiet the demons in his head. He had struggled with mental illness since we were children. There’s a void where a once vibrant man stood. It will forever be open. I will never forget you Sean. My love for you runs deeper then the deepest seas. I will always have your back, until the day I take my last breath. I will also never forget your laugh. As much as the sounds from the night we lost you ring through my head, so does your laugh....

Daughter, sister, aunt, mother. Megan was loving and kind and never judged anyone. Megan had so many beautiful qualities. Addiction stole this beautiful soul from us. I miss you more than I could ever express Megan Marie.....I LOVE YOU MORE ❤

Derrick was very humorous. He always had everyone laughing that fall to the floor, tears in your eyes, kind of laugh. The best daddy. Our kids miss him so much. Derrick struggled with addiction for about 10 years. His struggle is now over. I miss him more than words could ever say.

Scott was a warm and loving son. He struggled with drugs for many years and died as a result of drugs.

Me and my brother Greg weren't always "close" growing up.
We spent more time teasing each other or beating the hell out of each other, and making life hell for our parents & our neighborhood babysitters.
Greg moved in with me and my 2 young daughters when he was 15 and we were thick as thieves from that point on, until the morning I found him on my bathroom floor. Gone. From a heroin overdose after 7 months clean.
I never thought my heart could literally hurt, & losing my best friend has forever changed my entire life and it has & never ever will be right without him.
Me & my brother were a team for decades. We lived together as adults. We raised our children together. We raised each other at times. We always had each other's backs. Regardless of our life choices .
Greg BATTLED Heroin addiction for 13 years. He served 3 years in prison, paid his dues to society, and found God.
His heart was bigger than he was, & why, almost 2 years later, can I not get over that?
My life's been on auto pilot. Smile. Nod. Laugh. But deep inside my gut, I lost a piece of my past and my future losing him.
I will never ever forget how much I love him, and am thankful for the bestest friend, crazy funny, brother sister bond we had.
The one thing we all think we have is time..
You never know.

My son Robert was loving, caring person who helped everyone and anyone. He entered the hospital on March 17th from an overdose...3 1/2 weeks. Doctors said he is strong and had a 50/50 chance. My heart is forever broken. I miss him so much. Forever 26....

#nbk

My bestfriend overdosed on fentanyl and Xanax on Saint Patricks Day 2014. She was only 35 and she was an awesome person. She left behind a son, Joshua, and many loved ones. I will always remember her. I love you, Deb.

My mom lived an interesting life. She was the best mom she thought she could be as she was going thourgh her struggles in life. She was one very strong lady with a mouth to go with it. However, nothing could be bigger then her heart. She had such strong love for her grandchildren. She cleared up things that she was working on through her struggle with cancer. She left us with a strong legacy that she was one awesome, beautiful, smart, kind individual that would give you the shirt off of her back. She was a daughter, sister, mother, aunt, cousin, sister-in-law, and best grandma & great grandma ever.

My Chelsey Marie Gallien, my choy, my love, you were too young and you were too beautiful. I wish you never had left. You were an incredible, talented young woman who had so much to live for still, and it was taken way too early. Too beautiful, too loved. Such a tragedy for all. We all love you so very much my love. You forever will be missed -1/14/90-11/18/08

I miss the sound of his voice, the warmth of his presence, the safety in his embrace.
My husband lost his life to an addiction he hated. He was a beautiful person loved by many. I wish every day for the chance to show him again how much he means to me. We have two beautiful boys, one whom he never got to meet. They are my treasures, little pieces of him. 💜💜 Our lives will never be the same without him.

My Mom and Dad meant the world to me. They were awesome parents and I miss them, but will see them again someday.

Amazing and dedicated mom. She was a caring woman who always put others first. After the death of our mother she was lost and addiction was her way of coping. She will forever be missed. She was my little sister and everyday it’s a struggle without her. Love you sis.

Joseph was a man who had many struggles but always had a joke to tell or a smile to give to others. He lived every day with the thought that it could be our last, and his favorite thing to say, no matter what, was BLESSED.

Josh was the biggest hearted guy you could ever meet. He was always happy and full of life. He was an awesome daddy too. Until the stupid drugs took him over and put us all through hell and back. I really pray to God that he's resting and in a better place. The day he hung himself changed all of our lives forever. He didn't deserve to be gone. We miss you Joshua and will always have you in our hearts forever. I will forever hate drugs until the day I die. I watched my brother do some crazy stuff but I know he loved us with his whole heart. The drugs just covered it all up. Love you, brother, always and forever. Your sister.

Frankie was my oldest son. He adored his younger brothers. Frankie would help me with his brothers so I could work. He loved going to the shore and collecting seashells and watching movies with me! I loved that he wanted to spend time with me even though he was 20. He never left the house without giving me a kiss and saying " I Love You, Mom!"

He struggled with addiction for about 18 months. In that time he fought hard to find recovery. He hated what it was doing to me and the family. Even during his addiction, he was a good son, brother, grandson, nephew and friend. Everyone loved him! His smile was contagious! Frankie will never be forgotten! He is loved and missed.

Jeremy was always smiling. He was a strong man with strong views. He loved history, hiking, and old cars. He loved his family and especially his daughter. He struggled with his inner demons and addiction for many years. We had a long period of sobriety after his second stint in rehab. He was sober for 4 years on a methadone program. Unfortunately, when he fell victim again it was several in and out stays in rehab and mental hospitals. The last 15 months of his life were the worst. He was in recovery when he overdosed. He had just turned 34. On his 34th birthday, he had told his sister this was his year, he could feel it. Sadly, we lost him 11 days later. I will never understand and many questions will always remain unanswered. The one thing I do know is he didn't want to be an addict. Nobody chooses to live that way. He hated disappointing his family. He wanted sobriety. How his father handled his addiction was totally different than I did. His father is grieving differently. When my son died, he knew I loved him.

My son had an awesome sense of humor, and he could make you laugh a lot. He loved music and in his earlier days he was a DJ and got to meet a few artists. His biggest hero (singing) was Tupac. Now, when I listen to a few of his songs I can understand why. He had a huge love of all Philly sports and, working at Wells Fargo, he was able to meet a few of the players. His father took his life in 2010, which is the root of when/why his addiction spiraled. He was in five rehabs, a crisis center, then OD'ed on his 36th birthday, and was in recovery houses. He was two weeks shy of his one year sober anniversary. So many unanswered questions I’ll never have the answers to. I miss him terribly. This past year, he was the best he had been in years of recovery, had a sponsor and much support, and even chaired meetings and went back to talk to the parents at one of the rehabs he had been in. It seems like yesterday and other times like 100 years ago. I pray in some way I am able to help at least one person in his memory.

My Son died of a Fentanyl Drug Overdose. My husband and I found him. It was already too late! I love and miss my Son very much. Of all the things I could say, I struggle with where my Son is spending Eternity. If He could come back and say anything, I believe He would say, "Please don’t go back to doing drugs, speak to someone, reach out, drugs are not worth your life!" Our saying to all our family is LUMI ( love you mean it). I will love you even in death my Son!