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

My daughter Kayla was a mom of 2 babies, Rylee, 4 and 1/2, and Levi, who was 7 weeks old when she passed. Kayla was 26 years old and struggled with methamphetamines for 8 long and devastating years in which tried rehab and left etc. She was my ❤️ and will be truly missed by all of her family and children.

Teach your children not to do drugs because once the devil grips he has no mercy, and, well, he won. She’s no longer here for her children. Please find a cure for this madness.

Kim had the biggest heart. She was my cousin and best friend. She was a wonderful mother of 4 kids. She struggled with kidney stones and opiates took her life. My heart breaks for her every day. She made this world a brighter place. I'm a recovering addict and tried to help her. I always prayed she could win the battle but at church camp, she accidentally overdosed. Her 16-year-old daughter found her. Miss my sweet Kimbo,

He was my best friend. And he was amazing. I'm not even sure I can even write about him. It just still hurts so much.

Justin was a fun family man that loved his kids and would give the shirt off his back for a complete stranger. He was funny, outgoing, and a great friend. He struggled with addiction, as well as being away from his family. We will miss him dearly and bless those kids!

My Aunt Dee was one of the most amazing compassionate people I've ever known and always wore her heart on her sleeve. She would do anything for anyone, especially her family, and do it with a smile. She was an amazing daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, friend, writer, and teacher. She loved to write poems and you could feel her emotions come through with every word. Her laugh would make anyone laugh and I would give anything to hear her laugh again! Aunt Dee you are loved and missed EVERY DAY, love you forever and always!

XoXo

~Your Little Frog

My name is Jessica, I'm also a recovering addict. The first time I saw Kelli I felt so drawn to her. We first crossed paths at a NA meeting, and my soul felt like I've loved her for a lifetime. We happen to be in outpatient together, which to me was not a coincidence. She had long beautiful black hair, so unique from anyone I've ever met. She also has a twin sister and her home was in Alaska. She had two kids in Alaska and one here in Long Beach. She was adored by many. She had this sparkle in her that could light up the world. I am so grateful that of all people she loved me as much as I loved her. We were so in love. Her son was my lil best friend and I loved him just as he loved me. Kelli struggled with feelings, especially if they were negative, and that caused many relapses. She had a thick wall put up to avoid getting hurt, and she was set on saying nothing lasts forever. Heroin was her drug of choice, so that was her go to. I remain humble knowing I was able to crack that wall enough for her to know that she deserved to feel unconditional love. Unfortunately we relapsed on meth and that's when things got sour. She was on Vivitrol so her urge for heroin was not an issue. But things got worse so quick, she was losing herself in a psychosis from the meth. She left to Arizona without her shot for the cravings. We were both not okay. I've never felt so much pain and desperation as when she left and she felt the same. On February 17, I got a call Kelli died of fentanyl overdose. My heart was shattered, my reality shaken. I never saw her again. Kelli had a big heart, she was a loyal friend, she was protective to her loved ones. She was so full of life, funny, sweet, loved sports, and she was also the most beautiful woman in the world. She impacted so many, especially myself. We had plans to get married. She filled my heart with love. I know that if drugs we not in the picture that we would still be together, happy and in love. Please don't think that this can't happen to you, addiction takes anyone when it wants. I love you Kelli, forever in my heart.

Lucie is a beautiful soul. She was always the life of the party, and everybody wanted to be her friend. She always put others first, even in front of herself. In life she had her struggles, and she found comfort in drugs. In the past years, she has been in and out of rehab, but she succumbed to her illness after returning home her final time. She will be forever loved and remembered.

My son, angel, is our bright and shining who shined even in his darkest moments. His spirit and soul shined in his darkest moments as he went out of his way to help others. He went home to be in the loving arms of his creator and savior April 9, 2019 two days before his 36th birthday. He struggled with his methamphetamine addiction which took him to prison and took his life while in prison. He cried for help to his parole officer who never helped him get the treatment he cried out for. Instead they placed him in prison while waiting to get him in a program. On April 9, 2019 he was found unresponsive in his cell, and he then was flown to the hospital and revived five times. He waited for me, his loving mother, before he went home. My angel passed in his mother's loving presence upon he waited for me to arrive before he let his angels take him home. My angels legacy lives on because his mother is going to fight this addiction epidemic.

Michael struggled with addiction for years. He was in and out of rehab. We never lost hope. Michael had many hard times, his addiction landing him in some bad living situations, lost relationships, loss of employment and income, and deteriorating health. His family never lost hope and always loved him. He is sorely missed. His death changed us all.

Patrick was a talented artist with a love for music and the outdoors. He put his heart and soul into all of his passions. He tried to kick his addiction and struggled for a long time. After many ups and downs, addiction finally won. He is at peace, but we pray that others may find help before addiction takes them too.

A popular, good looking, funny football player. Jesse had a heart of gold. He loved kittens and kids. He loved shoes and hats. He loved fishing and football. Country music and rap. Life of the Party. Jesse had a contagious belly laugh and a crooked grin. He had the most beautiful green/hazel eyes and was 6’3”. He had tons of friends and enjoyed time with family. Forever 19 💔

I remember the day my brother was born. I was almost done with kindergarten and wore a pin with his picture on it so everyone that saw me knew I was now a big sister.
The age difference was tough during the earlier years but we were always each others biggest fans. I loved watching him play basketball and rarely missed a game and he was a dedicated softball fan through my entire playing career.
As we got older and life started to take its twists and turns, RJ started to have a harder time overcoming the many obstacles life threw his way.
He craved love, normalcy, and stability but was often faced with chaos and hardships.
He blessed our family with an amazing baby girl and we thought that might turn things around for him but instead, the harder he tried to find those things he was looking for, the more difficult life got for him.
He never saw himself the way that everyone else did: handsome, funny, smart, outgoing.
If love could have saved him, he would have lived forever but he could never truly find the love for himself in his heart.
We miss him every single day.

Mason was a smart, loving, and talented person. He loved his family, home, and friends so very much. Mason had been struggling with addiction for the last eight years of his short life. At the age of 21, he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. This disease is very difficult for a young person to manage, especially when heroin addiction is also present. Mason was caught in a cycle of treatment, sober living, relapse, and hospitals. After he relapsed, his diabetes would get out of control. He got so sick, each episode worse than before. His final hospital stay the doctors told him that he could never use drugs again. His heart, kidneys, and delicate thyroid functions were so damaged from high blood sugars. Tragically, just eight days later, Mason died of an overdose. We don't know for certain yet if his heart failed from the heroin, or it was overdose. Either way, drugs were the cause of his tragic loss. We had his service on August 30. Over 300 people came to honor him, and support our family. It was beautiful. Mason would have been so happy to see everyone he loved together in one place. He is so very loved and missed.

You were loved more than you knew but now you know. We miss you Kevin but as much as it hurts we know your pain has turned into peace and with that comfort is found.
Kevin fought his addiction for many years. He was such a wonderful young man who had such an insight to people. Forever in our hearts.

He was a beautiful soul. Cared so much for his loved ones and just wanted to be loved back. After he passed, so many of his friends who also struggled with addiction told us stories about Luis taking them in and giving them shelter and food when they didn't have anywhere else to turn. He always wanted everyone else to be ok but struggled with his own wellbeing. He's missed so much.

My brother struggled for more than half his life with addiction. He lost his battle on August 29, 2019. He passed away surrounded by his family due to complications from using dirty needles. Josh had a heart bigger than life and would do anything for his friends and family. His favorite things in life were the birth of his daughter in 2018 and spending time with his niece and nephew. His one wish in life was for those around him to do better than him. If his story could save just one person from this disease, he would be forever grateful. My brothers story and memories will forever live through us. I won’t ever give up the fight for him.

There are no words, but I will try-
On July 28th, our beloved son CJ found eternal rest. He is at peace, but we are shattered.
CJ was many things - a loving son and grandson, a fiercely protective brother, a caring, chivalrous boyfriend, and a loyal friend. He was a charmer with a big bright spirit and an out of the box approach to life. He had a deep love of music and was a talented musician, an all around athlete, and a valued team member. He lit up every room he entered and uplifted his teammates and coworkers with his sly smile and quick wit. He had a bright future.
He also suffered from addiction - a horrible, insidious disease that he fought bravely, but it stole him from us. Our only solace is knowing he is at peace and we pray that we may find it again someday soon.
Rest In Peace Boombie- you are loved and missed beyond measure.

My brother was a kind hearted, loving, caring, intelligent, creative, funny, give you the shirt off his back kind of human being. He was a sensitive and beautiful soul. He was a loving son, brother and friend to many. He went through a lot in life and struggled throughout with addiction on and off. He tried copious times to get clean only to be thwarted by the system as well as doctors and stigma surrounding the disease of addiction. It's time to end the stigma and treat addiction as it should be treated. My brother deserves to be here still, just as so many others do. It's a great disservice to this world that he's not here, and to all of us that know him, love him and miss him every single second of every day. It's now been a full decade my brother has been gone. The pain is always here. I can't do anything about that. I can try to help others, though. Please donate in my brother's name so that others will hopefully have a chance and other family and friends don't have to go through what me and my family, and countless others families, have and will go through. Much love! 💜💜💜

Jonathan was a beloved son, brother, uncle, nephew, grandson, cousin, co-worker, friend, and much more. He was his parents only son and named after his grandfather Robert. He will be forever missed and loved.

Amity means friendship. Amity was my big sister! She went by Amy. She was the most soulful, free person I’ve ever known. She was a mother, a sister, a daughter, a friend, and the favorite aunt to her nieces and nephews. She taught so many lessons while she was here and so many more since she has passed! She taught forgiveness love happiness joy and kindness while she was here, and since she has passed she has brought many people together through their love and through her struggles with addiction. I didn’t know it was possible to live with a broken heart but yet here I am. Addiction steals the most beautiful souls. It is never happy until it steals you. I really hope here death helped someone else live. I hope they saw and felt this pain and made the choice to get help.