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

My brother started with back problems and was prescribed morphine. He progressed eventually to heroin for years. We didn’t know and we were in denial for a long time. He got clean and was clean for 2 years. I thank God for those last two years because we got close again and he was so happy. He had 5 children from 4th grade to 12th grade. They found him in his room when he overdosed. Cause of death was homicide by Fentanyl. He was so excited to begin a new life and get back on track again. He was talking about gong to school for hotel management.

Goodbye baby brother. You were a best friend since birth, you were supposed to grow old with us. You could light up a room with your smile and sense of humor. You are gone far too soon. A piece of my heart goes with you. You were the best person you knew how to be, you just couldn’t defeat those demons, though you tried like hell. I will forever miss your laugh. These drugs have taken too many. You were a great brother, father, son, uncle, nephew, brother-in-law, cousin and friend. Those who knew you and those that were loved by you were lucky to have had you in their life, even if for a short time. We love you Chad Kriner.

He was a hard working young man, loved money and expensive things... He struggled for many years with addiction. Was in an out of rehab, overdosed several times.. it was bad, very bad... I still have nightmares about this horrible addiction...it's senseless and sad...😭😭😭

Chris was so proud of his sobriety that everyone thought that this was the time that would last. Unfortunately, he battled demons that led to his death. Will be missed forever by his Mom and StepDad, Granny, his love Stefanie and many other family members.

James stood by me for 18 years having children, raising children, working hard, loving, sharing, and caring. We lived. James struggled with his addiction and ultimately died from it. We all miss him terribly.

Sammi was a precious child, but at age 3 she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Her life changed and as she got older. She suffered with seizures which caused brain damage. In High school she got involved with the wrong crowd and drugs became a problem. Her mother had her in rehabs but as soon as she would get out she would be right back to using within weeks. She was such a caring young lady, but it was for others not herself. Sammi's bio Dad was in and out of prison her whole life, so that was something also missing for her. I'll never forget the morning my daughter went to check on her and found her not breathing. The EMT's worked on her for 30 minutes and brought her body back. But 2 days later they pronounced her brain dead. She was an organ donor and 4 people's lives were helped because of her. But she was a beautiful person that even with her addiction was loved.

He was a loving son and father and a great person. He was always helping others. I miss his hugs, kisses and the roses he always got me. Always in my heart and in my thoughts. R.I.P. until we're together again. Momma 💘 and misses you. xoxoxo

Charlie aka “Chuck" was my best friend.
He was my original other half because he was my twin. Growing up, we learned everything together from tying our shoes to riding our bikes. He was a very kind, sensitive brother. Although we were the same age he called me “ kid.” He always defended me and had my back. In fact he hated to see me cry. I guess I could say I was the same way with him. Unfortunately, he started with pot in high school and progressed to harder drugs. He hid it well and denied it till the day he died. I miss him everyday. He was found dead on Valentines Day. It’s a reminder to me to always tell those that you ❤️ that you do. Tomorrow is never promised. I love you bro.

The day I found out I was pregnant with Ricky was the happiest day of my life. The day the police came to my door and told me my son was found deceased was the worst day of my life. My son truly was a blessing and I am so happy that he chose me to be his mom I am forever grateful. I long for the day we are together again. I will give him the tightest hug and never let him go!!!!

My Jon Boy was a very intelligent, deep thinking, loving, and compassionate boy who grew into a man of great integrity but who never quite found his way here on earth. Jon could never seem to finish anything he started, high school, community college, the army, start up business, jobs. He was a dreamer much like his dad who had many mental health and drug issues as well. We divorced when Jon was three years old and Jon never really knew him. His dad died in an automobile accident after drinking and doing drugs all day with his older brother. His brother was driving the car. Jon was six years old when this happened. That is one of the things we shared, as I lost my father when I was six years old also. Jonathan was always showing his love for the people who meant the most to him. He adored his two young sons Stephen and Justin and his wife Bethany. Before the demon drugs took hold of him, Jon was always smiling and full of life. But then of course he became someone no one wanted to be around. He remained a loyal friend. My son and I had a very strong and unique bond. We had our differences but under it all the love was always there. He was my joy and I adored him as did everyone who met him. Jon lived in many places since moving out of our home at the age of 18 and was in the army on 9/11 when our world seemed to be crashing down. He did not fulfill his time in the army and was discharged with many other young men due to their drug use. We had not lived in the same state since he was about 21 years old. He moved around on the east coast a lot and ended up in Texas when he was 25. This is where he met his future wife. I think he moved away from us so that we would not know about the extent of his drug use. We had no idea he was using. We found out that Jon struggled with addiction from the time he was a teenager. He had back and neck issues and was prescribed Oxycontin back then and then moved on to all sorts of other drugs but ended up on heroin during his last few years on earth. He bought what he thought was heroin that turned out to be Fentanyl. I miss him so much and just wish others would understand that my son had a disease and did not want to become addicted or die. If I had it to do over again I would not have done the "tough love" route with him for the last two years of his life after I found out he was using heroin. I would have been more aggressive in getting him into recovery. I have guilt over this but I know he knew how much I loved him. If you have a child or loved one struggling just give them the emotional support and love they so desperately need. Not money, love and constant support is what they crave. Tell them how important they are and worthy of your love. Jon did not get any of that in the end and we all now regret turning him away, but as anyone who has someone with an addiction in their life knows, it is almost impossible to deal with their lying, stealing, anger, and distorted view of the real world on a daily basis. It's exhausting and a threat to our own mental and physical health. But they need our compassion because they are not the person we know, they have become the person the drugs have created. I will continue to honor my son Jonathan Justin Shea for as long as I am breathing here on earth and will never stop trying to bring awareness to others about the disease of addiction.

Kailey was a beautiful soul who loved without judgement of anyone. She would give whatever she had to others no matter if they were known to her or a complete stranger. She had found her true calling when she became a mom. She loved her daughter so much and was an absolutely amazing mom! She struggled with addiction and after a long period of sobriety had a relapse and died as a result. The impact she had on so many will go on even in her absence. You couldn’t have met her and not have been impacted by her. To me it’s not about how she died but about how she lived. I will miss and love her every day of my life

Tanner...what an amazing son, brother, cousin, friend!! This drug robbed us of all of his beautiful qualities!!

So caring and thoughtful

My sister was my best friend, my world. I loved her through her addiction and I love her still. The day I received the call altered my life and I truly, deeply miss her still. I will never forget her and what she meant to our family!

Tylet grew up playing sports and loved the Florida Gators. He was a goalie for the city league hockey team and was being recruited yo move on to the next level.. Tyler was a big brother to his younger twin brothers and they miss him dearly. I long for the day we see him again!

Tried to beat his addiction but it had a hold on him

Taken to soon from a heroin overdose 

When Bret was 13, he had a biking accident that severed his spleen in half. He was in intensive care for over a week after the surgery to save him. He was given diladid for the next year due to the pain and a recurring infection later determined to be MRSA. We later found out he developed an addiction to the opioid pain medications. He battled in silence and eventually turned to heroin. He entered rehab in March of 2015. May 19, 2015 he completed his court ordered rehab and came home. He overdosed on May 28, 2015. He left behind a mom, dad, brother, sister, and a niece and nephew. He was the sweetest boy and always was looking after everyone he came into contact with. The night he passed away, he gave me a big hug and said, "I love you, Mom." So thankful for the 20 years I had with him but so, so angry the drugs sucked the life out of him.

She struggled for about 5-6 years and finally went to rehab in CA. Was doing awesome, almost a year sober and then her so called husband whom she was sperated from bought a pill and he either slipped it to her or she took it. It was laced with fentanyl. Either way she didn't stand a chance to live. He was with her when she died.

Tommy’s addiction started with pain pills. When he couldn’t get them anymore he started snorting heroine. He fought hard and did stop using. He went to school and got his CDL to drive tractor trailers. He was doing so good. He and his girlfriend went out to dinner to celebrate his new job. They wound up drinking alcohol and got very drunk. They must have decided to buy cocaine. They were both found dead in their bedroom. It was not cocaine, it was 100 percent fentanyl. They knew about fentanyl and would never have used it. Whoever sold that to them didn’t care that it would kill them. My heart is broken.