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

Curtis was with someone he thought was a friend. He was staying the night walking distance from our home and he (the so called friend) gave my son a lethal combination of drugs. He videotaped him for over five hours. Even posted video of him already gone before I or the EMT's arrived. Curtis was not your regular 17 year old in so many ways. He earned the family towing business being signed to him on his 18th birthday. He was my (his Mom) protector for many years, being a single mom to him and his brother, who are 18 years apart. He was an amazing uncle to his two nephews. His sister in law which he called sister was in his life from day one and he watched them get married before he was even 5. He helped and worked in family business since he could walk, he lived to drive and ride anything fast from 4-wheeler, his many dirt bikes, the last one being his YZ125 and he loved making his cars go faster and be louder. He just purchased his Duramax Truck, which was a dream for him but also because he loved helping his friends when their bikes broke down. He found his forever love when he was only 14 but he knew she was the one because he was ready to give her the ring on his 18th birthday. And they completed each other, his smile lit up a room and he could make you laugh even on your worse day. He was loved by so many friends that honored him daily. He had a very bright future and many dreams to make come true. A night at a friend's house cost him and us something that will never come back nor can be replaced. Not to mention receiving his high school diploma in June 2020 like he would have, get married, having kids and being an awesome dad. Getting his 350 z his grandad left him on road, helping his nanny around her house, making memories with friends, hunting with me since his granddad passed, which I loved being a part of, date night with Bree, cheering his nephews at games, giving his brother and sister a hard time, lol. His life was cut so short because of drugs and not by his choice!!!!

My daughter struggled with heroin addiction for nearly five years. She tried so hard to beat it. She loved life to the fullest! She loved her family. Her smile and laugh was continuously contagious.

My son struggled with addiction and depression. He tried to get better with our help and his belief in medicine. We believed he would always get better because that’s what he believed. He tried and tried, and things became more difficult. He became depressed and more alone. It was horrible because this was not our beautiful son. He was gifted musically, loving, caring, sensitive, artistic, and such a beautiful son. I try to remember the beauty in my son before his addictive ways. He always seemed to pull through. Our last Thanksgiving and Christmas he said was the best for him in many years. I am thankful for that and all the wonderful days we had together as he grew up. He cared more for others than he did for himself. He was a humanitarian in a true sense. He loved life and his friends and family truly. We will never be the same without him in this world. We are all heartbroken and miss him dearly. RIP BRADLEY

Cole was the brightest young man I have ever met. He helped me do CPR on one of his friends that had overdosed and promised me it would never happen to him. I sobbed uncontrollably begging him to not let it happen to him too. He promised me..... I know he wanted to live, he had so much to live for, and so many that loved him. I did not know him long, he was in rehab with my sons but I grew to love him and know he was a bright star that did not get to shine long enough!

My brother was/is an amazing person who will always be loved and missed by so many.

My husband had a smile that would light up a room. He was so kind and caring and had the biggest heart of anyone I know. He tried so hard to live for his family and fight his demons. He will forever be missed. He was an amazing husband and father.

My son was brilliant, intellectually ahead of his time and technologically advanced beyond what I could possibly imagine.
He has a four year old son and two year old daughter who will never see their dad again or see why people loved him so much.
We had suspicions but they weren't confirmed until about three weeks before his passing that he was definitely using. People tried to tell us but we didn't want to believe he was foolish enough to touch the stuff. He hid his addiction so well but once he realized we had undeniable proof he could no longer hide it.
It was evident to me he wanted to live a normal, boring life like the rest of us and work and have his kids back again.
He would do anything to help anyone and knew how to hustle to get where he wanted to be whether it was fixing cars or computers in exchange for his favorite video games or a tow when his own car would break down.
He was a prankster who loved to have fun and knew how to live life but the harder parts of his life led to his addiction to heroin.
He was doing so well and the last week he was alive he fixed us dinner and helped us out more than usual and we had some laughs. He was Roger again and even had a good job lined up.
The next day was a mother's worst nightmare. I found him dead in his room of a heroin fentanyl overdose.
I would give anything to have him back....
Rest easy son, you're no longer suffering and have earned your wings...I will love you all the rest of my life.....

My Samantha. Loved by her family. Missed by many. Sam had struggled with heroin addiction. She was given 100% fentanyl.

She was a gifted artist and had just given birth to a beautiful baby boy five months before her death.

We are devastated.

What a joy he was to have in our life. He was a great son, father, and my brother. He fought addiction since he was a young boy. He tried to overcome it, he hated himself for not being strong enough to fight the disease that took his sweet love from us! Not a day goes by we don’t think of him. Till we meet again brother, sissy will do all I can here on earth. And your kids will never forget you.

My beautiful son Joey had a generous heart and an extremely funny sense of humor. He had a magnetic personality. He struggled for seven long years with his addiction. I want to remember him the way he was prior to his struggles, and the beautiful relationship we shared. He is missed by his family very much. I think of him every minute of every day. I know he is with me always. Love you my Joey xoxo

My dad. The man, the myth, the legend. Struggled with addiction his entire life. He lived a life of drugs, gangs, and prison. Any time he could talk to me, he never let me forget how much he loved me, though. His laugh was hilarious. He was a free bird, nothing could hold him down. He fought hard. Tragically, fentanyl was what took his life. He ended up on life support. His bear hugs and smile and his pretty blue eyes are what I miss the most.

My firstborn. So funny. Great father, brother, and son.

Loving father, fiancé, brother, son, and friend. I miss his laugh, his smile, and his voice. Addiction is a horrible thing to suffer from, he said when he was not using drugs, he used to hate the person looking back at him in the mirror. He still battled demons that he never dealt with, which caused a relapse which led to his death. Did he think that would be the last time? Of course not, did he want to use? Of course not. The fact is no one does want to use, but you never know what someone is trying to escape from.

He always lit up the room when he walked in it. I miss him so much. If you know someone struggling with addiction, tell them you love them. It may be the last time you get to.

Joey was a kind, loving soul. He was my best friend as well as my son. Joey is deeply missed by all his friends and family. We love you Joey.

My Matthew was one of the most kind, intelligent, lovable caring soul!! From the first day he was born till the day of his death he was a fighter!! We never gave up on him--he just gave up on himself!! We loved Matthew as if he was the only soul on this earth!! We miss him and think of him every second of the day!! 143 my sweet angel

Jacob attended Hendersonville High School where he was a member of the Commando Basketball team. He loved all sports and played on the AAU TN Panthers basketball team. He also enjoyed music and video games. He was a selfless, fun, goofy guy who wore his heart on his sleeve. Jacob would light up a room and above all else, he loved his family. We will always miss him and forever hold him in our hearts. 

My angel Joseph was the most loving and kind hearted soul. Joseph had a fierce sense of humor. You were always laughing with him!!! He was an amazing person.
He struggled with this opiate addiction pretty sure 2 years before we lost him.
He tried!! He did go into treatment few times!!! I was unaware of this opiate addiction for a while. He was 24 and working and living with his aunt to get back and fourth.
I ended up having to have him sectioned. Meaning he was a danger to himself and others. This was to himself. Was trying to get that done while he was in the hospital from his 13th overdose. They made it almost impossible. Well they agreed. In he went. I figured he’ll hate me. But I KNEW WITHOUT a doubt I was losing him. Well he came out of the facility and was taking vivatrol. One shot a month. He did it for 2 months. And that 3rd month we lost him. 25 years old. Joseph has a huge family and was absolutely adored!! A lot of friends and people who loved him ... I cannot believe it still. He adored his younger sister like I can’t explain. Extremely protective.
I know if I completely crumble, not WHAT HE WOULD want!! Dealing or struggling through this is a pain I will never be able to explain. Thank God for my daughter and family. I did really hold on. Get up, stop, you have a beautiful daughter. I realized I will have this pain as we all will forever.
Did I want to celebrate any holiday? Absolutely not. Then I felt like he was letting me know how selfish that is. You have no right to take that from my sister. She’s 20. I have made small steps because of the love my son and his sister had. No matter what, I cannot take all of this away from her.
Today I struggle everyday. There’s not a second I don’t think of him. I miss him like I cannot explain. May god bless my son.
I know he’s with the angels. This will never go away!!! One minute at a time. 🙏🙏

My Nicholas struggled with pills and then moved on to heroin. We fought until the very end, 6 years of struggling, on Oct 18th 2016. I got the call I knew was coming! He really tried so hard, he just couldn’t fight it anymore! He was 24 years old December 15. We will celebrate his life. 4 bdays without him! We miss him terribly. He was smart, funny, good looking. When he walked into a room he lit it up with his smile! Always kept us laughing until that demon took him from us! It’s just heart wrenching living without him everyday 😢😢😢😢😢

Elias was funny, sweet, caring and so much more. He was on the autistic spectrum and used weed to self-medicate. Sadly, he met some people who saw someone vulnerable and the one time that he tried a hard drug, it killed him.

Our hearts are broken forever....

My brother was an amazing man after his addiction and prison time. He got out of prison. And still drank tho. He took care of his family and kids very well tho. He loved to make people smile and cared deeply about his loved ones. He was killed by a driver who was drinking.