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

My Son was nicknamed Bunky. He had 2 beautiful Daughters that he loved more than anything. He really struggled with his addiction. Bunky was a very Loyal person. He was always smiling and joking around. He is missed by his Mom, Daughters, and many Friends. It doesn’t get any easier. He is in Heaven looking over us now.

Mother and grandmother that struggled with addiction her entire life. Left behind 3 daughters, Corrine, Brittany and Cheyenne. And 4 grandsons, Dylan, Cody, Andrue and Isaac. And 2 granddaughters, Sadie and Alonah. 2 of her grandchildren never got to meet their grandma. She was loved by us all very much and we miss her more than we could ever explain.

Michael was a fun loving guy. He always wanted everyone to feel included. He had a compassionate heart. Drugs changed him. He fought his addiction for a long time. He was freed from his addiction the day he went to be with Jesus. We love him and miss him every day.

JOSHUA
MI
1990-2017

Hi I'm Josh. I'm a great son, brother, grandson, friend & father. I was in a car accident & was started on narcotics for pain. I didn't know that was the beginning of the end. I was immediately addicted. My body & mind craved drugs 24/7. I went to rehab a couple times, but insurance only covered 14 days. That wasn't enough. I battled with my addiction every day, while maintaining being a father. I lost my battle on 3/28/17. Two days earlier I had decided I would go to rehab again. I hated this life... but I wanted to live. I lost. Gone too soon from a DISEASE that needed intense treatment. I miss my kids, my family... but not the pain & shame that comes with addiction. I will see you all again some day...

Patrick was a great young man who played lacrosse. He injured his shoulder and everything went downhill from there. He was always honest with me. We both tried so hard to stop the downward spiral! He just couldn’t beat it. It finally took him 2/18/17.
My life hasn’t been the same since! He is missed and forever loved by so many!

Tracy was one of the most beautiful people. She was my first best friend and a wonderful sister. She always made me smile. She loved her family so much. She had many years of struggle and still came out on top. I love and miss her so much. We never expected this to happen. If she had only had more time with us. She was 42 years old when she was called home. Until we meet again Sis, I love you!!!!

My son was more than a addict. He was an AMAZING young man and BEST brother to his younger special needs sister. He was a full time employee and lived independently. For a few years he struggled before he reached his 14 month clean stretch. Fentanyl took him from us.
Life will never be the same!

Kayden was a kind, compassionate soul who never judged anyone. His adversities made him into a humble and loving person who was a friend to all. Kayden was my best friend. We supported each other, and believed in the very best of each other, too. When his father developed Alzheimers, it was Kayden who rolled up his sleeves to assist me day to day and reminded me often that my life is not over, that god has something special in store for me in my next chapter. It was his encouragement that made my loss easier to handle. Kayden was special that way to me.
I will miss Kayden every day and my love for him was unconditional. I will
Always be most proud to have been his big momma bear!

Tashara came into the world 10/1/1991 dazzling her family with the greenest eyes that would melt our hearts forever. She had the most contagious disposition & unconditional, loving heart of anyone that I know. Our story isn’t one of a struggle with addiction. It is one that bares the similarity of a lot of the losses we have continued to see across our country. Playing Russian roulette with your life. Thinking that you’ll make it to the next day. When reality is that one more high leads to your demise. It only took one time for my beautiful, ever so loving daughter. In honor of our beautiful Tashara I will continue to fight our opioid crisis. Not only to keep her memory alive, but all of our special someone's that have been taken. Change Will Come. End the stigma & silence surrounding drug addiction & overdose. WE LOVE & MISS YOU SO MUCH T!💚

Leah Jones was a gorgeous baby who grew into a gorgeous young girl who grew into a gorgeous woman. She loved life and had a daughter who filled her heart with love. She felt others’ pain and made everyone feel like they were her very best friend. She was an accomplished student and received her bachelor of nursing in 2012. She shared her darling daughter with our family, and as far as I am concerned, Emma was her greatest gift to us as a family, as well as the world.
Losing Leah has been one of the most painful things we have ever endured. Life will never be the same for any of us. Leah’s cause of death was a cute fentanyl poisoning. She would never have knowingly used fentanyl. Whoever gave it or sold it to her killed her. I will miss her for the rest of my life- until I see her again for eternity. See you on the flipside, sis!

Loving husband, father, son and friend. Loved fishing, camping and being outside in Nature. Loved coaching our daughters and cheering them on. We miss you.

I hope you have the peace you so desperately sought. I think of you often.

Smile and those eyes that could make your heart melt! Handsome man! Loving Father, Brother and Son!  Personality that shines and shines!

Michael was a loving, caring, hard working man. He was a great father to his 2 boys and stepdaughter. He coached baseball, basketball and football for his sons' seasonal youth sports. He was a fire sprinkler union worker. A great son who made our parents proud. But to me... He was my big brother.. We always took care of each other.. In good times and in bad.. I wish I could cook one more meal for you since you always enjoyed my cooking 😂 Michael was always joking around and laughing about something.. His smile was contagious.. He sadly became addicted to pain medication after having chronic back pain and and when he couldn't receive pain meds anymore he sought out another way to ease his pain.. A fast progression of this led him on a fast downward spiral ... When he was ready and willing he went to rehab.. And was in for 51 days.. When his insurance decided that was long enough. They discharged him.. He knew he wasn't ready mentally and said he needed more time.. That he couldn't go home just yet... Sadly he was released anyway... and less than 12 hours later he was gone. Mike was so very special and we miss him every day. We love you Mike .. Forever! ❤

Josh was the youngest of 5. With 3 older sisters and 1 older brother you would think the "fight" for attention would be a full time job, however Josh never struggled to be noticed. From a very young age, Josh had the ability to light up the room without even saying a word. He was a character and never stopped making people smile. He was so full of life, personality, charm, wit, and love. One of my best memories of him is when he was 4 years old and he would walk around our front porch in his jeans, work boots, pretend hard hat, and no shirt, he had to flex his muscles for the ladies. As we got older I remember when he would walk through the front door with those piercing blue eyes and smile, and he always greeted me the same way. He would "man handle" in a play fight way my butt onto the couch, then pick me up and give me a bear hug. He was one of the best huggers in the world. I often think back to those memories and get choked up. I miss everything about him. He was an annoying little brother who I would have given my life for.
I tend to describe Josh as a diamond in the rough, as he got older he received a reputation that was not him. He got mixed in with the wrong crowd and put on this "tough guy" front, when inside he was a deep, loving, sweet, good hearted, smart, young man. He truly had so much potential and I don't doubt he could have been somebody had his life not been cut short. Sadly, for the last 6 years of his life I was not around. I was estranged from my family and because he was only a child it made maintaining a relationship with him difficult. However, God allowed me to see Josh just one last time, I saw him for the first time in 6 years and what I would soon learn would be the last time, in February of 2018. He was also able to meet my daughter, Hunter, who I know he would have adored had he spent more time with her. I wasn't aware he had an addiction, however after connecting to people who were in his life when he died, I found out he self medicated so to speak to deal with anxiety and depression. Sadly, on May 15th his struggles were ended. I truly hope he is at peace and is no longer suffering. My hope is to share his story, to have his story inspire someone struggling and save them. I want to share with the world who my brother WAS and not who they thought he was. I will never stop honoring Josh, I will never stop sharing the memories, I will never stop remembering him. He is my angel and I will forever miss him!! FOREVER 22, REST IN PEACE BABY BROTHER!

Mathew is spelled with one T. He was 6’5” tall and gave the best bear hugs ever! He was kind, smart, on the honor roll for straight A’s every semester of school. He went to Tuscany to attend culinary school and graduated with honors. He was a high functioning addict. He was so good at helping and talking to other people with a drug problem but couldn’t help himself unfortunately. I miss him every day and I love him so much. I wish I could ask God for another chance, but I know it doesn’t work that way. We love you baby :(

If you met Daniel, you likely would not have guessed that he struggled with substance abuse. He was smart, educated, and funny (with an unmatched dry sense of humor.) He wasn’t much interested in money, but pursued it enough to keep his clothing and appearances neat. He was patient and kind, especially with those he could tell were struggling just to get through the day. He had so many hopes: to have a dog, to travel, to spend more time with family, to help others with their struggles. He used substances as a means of "managing" life-long struggles with anxiety and depression. He loved his family and friends and wanted to find a way to be free of substance-dependence.

Handsome, fun loving and so caring! He was a wonderful Dad, Son, Brother! We miss you dearly, our hearts are broken without you!

Ryan was a son, a brother, an uncle, a cousin, my best friend, and my soulmate. A very caring, funny, intelligent and respectful young man. His family, friends and I miss everything about him. He had mental health issues and self-medicated for many years.

Proud Father, Brother, Son