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

Brittany was born and raised in Charleston, SC. She has a twin brother, Matthew, also in Charleston. She passed away due to a drug overdose on August 13, 2018, at the age of 19, in Florida.

She was tender-hearted, very kind, and funny. She had the most infectious laugh and was usually surrounded by friends and family. She attended church regularly growing up and through her high school years, and participated in the youth group, fundraisers, missions, and church choir.

She will be desperately missed by her family and friends, but we know that she is in peace with God.

Andrew was one of the most kind, caring people I’ve ever known - but he wasn’t without his struggles. Like myself, he had long struggled with depression and anxiety, and psychiatry had let him down when it came to methods of dealing with it--while avoiding dependence to strong psychiatric drugs. Shortly before his passing, he was still dealing with the horrifying withdrawal symptoms of both benzodiazapenes and methadone. The dependence formed on these drugs and his attempt to cease his use of them put him in constant, horrifying pain. Despite this, he maintained his warm/friendly demeanor when among close friends or loved ones. I believe these drugs and Andrew’s attempts to get away from them added greatly to his suffering, as well to his growing distrust of doctors and psychiatry.

Anthony’s opiate addiction started the typical way....as pills, and eventually advanced to heroin.  He was a college graduate, and started with pills towards the end of school.  The two years after college were the worst...that is when his addiction reared it’s ugly head. The disease of addiction has been described as “cunning, baffling, powerful, and insidious. “  No truer statement exists. Anthony struggled during those two years, and then made a decision to finally get clean in 2014, after several relapses.  

He rebuilt his life after rehab. He took up golf, and became obsessed with the game. It suited his fiercely competitive nature. He reconnected with his best friends that he had thought he lost forever. That made him so happy.  He loved the friends he grew up with.  He joined NA and was lucky enough to get an amazing sponsor and make some fantastic new friends too.  He met a wonderful girl, and fell in love. His life was falling into place, and seemed good.

Anthony worked very hard on his sobriety every day. It was not easy, and he had his struggles. Addiction is a burden, and each day you have to fight your demons. He went to meetings 4-5 times a week, spoke at meetings, drove others to meetings, chaired the meetings, had commitments at the meetings. Anthony was completely immersed. He had a corporate job and a beautiful girlfriend he loved with all his heart. He and Caily were planning to marry.  Anthony gave his time to anyone struggling from addiction.  He was extremely generous...especially with his time.  He literally did give people the clothes off his back!  He was truly amazing!  

Anthony enjoyed life while he was sober. He took vacations, played golf, went to many movies and concerts, and especially enjoyed gatherings with friends and family.  He made plans for the future.  Anthony was kind and warm, unbelievably witty, and could speak with anyone on any subject.  He was always very curious, and constantly reading and looking up information. To say he was knowledgeable is an understatement.  Anthony loved sports...especially the Green Bay Packers and college basketball. He also loved all types of music, and went to dozens of concerts. His favorite band was Dave Matthews Band....something he shared with many of his friends.  Anthony was an amazing brother to his beautiful sister Kristen. He teased her incessantly, but loved her to pieces, and would do anything for her. Anthony will always be remembered by his friends and family as the funny, silly guy with the magnetic personality who lit up the room.  He is loved and missed beyond all imagination by so many.  

In the end, when things were taking a downward turn for him in his life, he didn’t have the strength to fight his inner demons.  He wanted to numb the unbearable pain he was feeling inside. He relapsed and was gone because of fentanyl laced heroin. This horrendous disease is taking our loved ones from us. Lives are cut too short. Plans for the future will never be realized for so many.  It has to stop. I know that my life will never be the same...there is a hole in my heart that will never heal. Rest In Peace my beautiful Anthony.  I will love you and miss you forever. Mom  

I wish I had a story to tell. But it’s everyone’s story. Jacob struggled with who he wanted to be and who he was. At the end of the day, I wish he had the strength to have pulled through. I miss him desperately. There is not a minute that I don’t think of him. And although he is at peace, it is I who is not. I couldn’t fix it then and I can’t fix it now. The void of him is unbearable.

Despite his demons, he was funny, up on all current events. Befriended everyone and left a memorable impression on more than he knew.

Taylor was a beautiful and bright young woman who wandered through life with an untamable spirit, leaving good memories and smiles everywhere she went. She loved playing with her son, listening to music as loud as she could get it, and riding with the windows down to feel the breeze against her cheek on hot summer days. Her life was so cruelly short and, at times, tough. Upon the passing of John David, she got a tattoo on her arm with words from one of his letters. They read, “I wish I was around to stand outside the madness and just watch and smile.” Taylor would want everyone to know that she is outside the madness now, at peace at last and watching with that smile that could light up even the darkest of rooms.

My brother was a loving, charismatic, hardworking man. He struggled with addiction, but that did not define him. This disease is never suffered alone. It’s destructive and shakes everything in its path. As Ryan’s sister, I watched him struggle with his addiction for years. You feel hopeless, and at times you feel angry. Throughout the years, the the worst thing was watching my brother, who I loved and was very close with growing up, drown in his addiction and not being able to convince him this isn’t the end, and that the choices that were made are the past and the future can be changed.

I want other families and those suffering from addiction to know they are not alone. When you feel like giving up, don’t because you are stronger than you realize. This has put the person with addiction and their families through hell. If you look back on all the destruction that has happened because of the addiction and you survived, you can survive recovery and regain everything. It is never easy and the fight will never be over. There are days you will feel hopeless and relapses may occur, know that it’s okay but continue to fight. Fight for you life, your family, everything that you love.

Martiana was such a sweet soul. She loved and trusted everyone. She always thought of the needs of others before her own--even in her darkest days of addiction. She left behind an 8 year old son Xayvier whom we are raising. He, like Martiana, is selfless. I see so much of her in him. Sad to say he knows more about addiction than most people my age because I would rather educate him on this and let him know that we are here for him than for him to be educated about drugs on the street.  I am very grateful that before she passed away she was in jail for six months and was sober. I got to spend time with my baby and see her smile that smile that could light up the world and hear her genuine laugh. I got to see her be a mother and see the strong sister bond that she and her sister had before heroin. If I had to do it all over again, I would just to be her mama again! Forever 25. Martiana Kay, I love and miss you. 

Love, mom

Chelsea was the starting center for her high school team and end of freshman year became a target of severe bullying by older group of girls that resulted in a planned mob attack after two years of relentless bullying/cyber-bullying. Chelsea quit basketball and we removed her from the high school. She admitted to turning to vodka secretly to cope with anxiety/depression having no idea it would take her life so young. She wanted to get healthy and clean and sought medical help but was sent home. Stigma played a major role from that point on until her tragic death after six weeks of hospitalization. This advice came from a young doctor to get her to another team who would see past the addiction and save her young life. We sadly sent her to the wrong hospital. I now know that other transplant surgeons would have transplanted her in the time frame to save her life. Her death was senseless and preventable. I now speak in high schools and other venues on the topic of addiction, bullying and the six month rule that was wrongly applied to her young life.Chelsea admitted to turning to vodka secretly to cope with anxiety/depression having no idea it would take her life so young. She wanted to get healthy and clean and sought medical help but was sent home. Stigma played a major role from that point on until her tragic death after six weeks of hospitalization. This advice came from a young doctor to get her to another team who would see past the addiction and save her young life. We sadly sent her to the wrong hospital. I now know that other transplant surgeons would have transplanted her in the time frame to save her life. Her death was senseless and preventable. I now speak in high schools and other venues on the topic of addiction, bullying and the six month rule that was wrongly applied to her young life. Her story will soon be in the Boston Globe, as well. We were also contacted by Dateline, Lester Holt for story of addiction/liver disease in young people.

Derek was a son, brother, uncle, grandson, best friend, and more. He was my little brother and my best friend. I miss everything about him. He gave the best hugs and ended every phone call with I love you. He was honest and kind in the most genuine way. He would do anything for his family and his friends. His heart was so big, there was no end to the love he gave to those around him. But he was sensitive and that took a toll on him. He fought depression for most of his life which led to his addiction. We almost lost him once years before to a near fatal overdose but he recovered and went on to give us nine more years with him. During that time he was sober, he graduated college, he was running the family business, he was always there. Steady and strong. But the depression always came back. At some point he started using again. He hid it for a while. By the time he told us he was too far gone. As a family we did all we could, but in the end, he lost his battle. We found him on October 21, 2017. He passed away from an overdose and is gone from us forever. Our lives will never be the same without him.

"I carry your heart, I carry it in my heart. I am never without it. Wherever you go, I go." - ee cummings

He suffered from addiction, but that was not his definition.
He was funny and kind. He was the most generous person I have ever met, and would always go the extra mile to help someone in need.
He lit up the room with his big personality, bright smile, and contagious laugh.
He was a bright light, and his light still shines on everything he touched and in the hearts of all who loved him.
He wanted so badly to be free of his addiction. His dream was to help others who struggled with this affliction.

I miss Marc's smile and love for life. Marc was my firstborn, I didn't know about his addiction because I missed all the signs. He was intelligent and bright and owned his own finance company. I miss his laugh and his beautiful smile, I miss him calling my number. I miss him everyday.

My son Christopher died of heroin addiction, which he battled for years on and off. A disease known to all too many, whether young, old, wealthy or poor, it does not discriminate.
Rehab and sober houses became a short fix. He was clean for three years and we all felt he was on his way to the life we always wanted for him.
He had a new job he loved, so many friends, new car, the list goes on.
It took only one day and it all came to an end. Recovery is a day to day struggle whether on Suboxone or Methadone. The evil hides in the back of your mind waiting for the chance to strike yet again.
We tried for years to save him from this horrific disease to no avail.
The pain of a broken heart and emptiness everyday will be with us for the rest of our lives.
Christopher is the shining light in our world that will never go dim. There are no words to describe our love for him.
Rest in Peace our beautiful son until we see you again.

He would be the "party" at the party! His laugh was just classic but most of all he was a beautiful human being with a loving heart that only knew to love always and never judge, we miss you so much and you will forever live in our hearts.

It’s hard to conceive that it’s been a year since you passed away.

The very last time I saw you, you were sitting across the kitchen counter from me, enjoying a stack of pancakes, eggs, and a latte and chuckling over an old book of poems you had authored as a child.

That moment feels so incredibly close. Your ear to ear smile and laughter is forever ingrained in my heart. Your radiating warmth and love lit all of our lives. You were a big teddy bear that everyone wanted to hug.

Albert Einstein once said that, ‘The distinction between the past, present and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion.’ The love you brought to this world in your short life lives eternally through the people you inspired.

The outpouring of friends who told us of how you helped in their journey with addiction disease has been heartwarming. And your impact on family members is unfolding in many different ways. Your kid brother has picked up your passion for sports and athleticism. Your younger sisters are influenced by you in their creative writings, artwork, music and life goals. Your dad has been enlightened in his philosophical and spiritual pursuit and carries you in his heart in all his endeavors. And I will continue to hold you by my side as I honor the call to action you asked of me in the search for solutions to the opioid epidemic that has taken so many precious lives including yours.

Yesterday, July 13th, we honored you by climbing up Mount Greylock, a mountain in MA that you wanted to hike. There was no better way to celebrate your life and birthday than through what you thoroughly enjoyed - being in the midst of beautiful nature surrounded by people who loved you.

At the top of the mountain, the highest peak in MA, we visited the Veterans Memorial Tower. Inside the tower, was written:
'Those immortal dead who live again in minds made better by their presence'.

Thank you for guiding us to this beautiful point. We miss you dearly Alec. But we feel blessed to have been loved by you and know that your spirit travels closely and serves as a guiding light for the rest of our days.

Sending you an abundance of love and hugs.

Alexander Pelletier, our beloved son, grandson, and brother died in his sleep on his 26th birthday, July 13, 2018. Alec was recovering from the disease of addiction, and he looked forward to a spiritually fulfilling life of sobriety. Alec’s absence here on Earth will leave voids in the hearts of many. He was known for his extraordinary athleticism, affectionate and loving heart, and contagious laughter.

Kimberly, as only she would allow me to call her, Kim to everyone else, was my only sister, my best friend, and my biggest baby lol. I have never experienced such pain. Not a day goes by that I don't miss her!! Love you, sister

Elijah had undergone treatment for opioid addiction through his mid-teens and lost his battle with this disease at just 18 years old. He will always be remembered for his smile and the most contagious belly laugh there was.

Zane grew up in Allied Gardens in San Diego, CA.  He excelled in his schoolwork, music, and sports at a very young age. He loved to play the guitar and enjoyed playing soccer, basketball, and then baseball into his early teens. He played in his church's praise band until his junior year of high school. Zane loved his friends and loved having fun. He loved hiking, fishing, and camping with both family and friends. He started dabbling with drugs in middle school and by his later high school years, he was hooked on anything that made him feel good. Drinking wasn't so much his thing as trying out new drugs that made him feel better. He had a bad bout of ulcerative colitis  and then was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in his mid twenties and was prescribed pain medicine, Norco and oxycodone, which he quickly discovered helped greatly with his colon pain, and also with the feelings of depression and inadequacy that he had begun to feel since high school.  We didn't know that he was dealing with these feelings back then as he was quite the showman and hid his feelings well. He couldn't get his pain med's once his disease went into remission and we found out that someone (a random person, not a friend) introduced him to smoking heroin. His family and friends knew after a while since it drastically altered his mood and general attitude towards life. He could still pull off being sober and being 'Zane' in the beginning, but we all had suspicions when he relapsed after rehab. He was under the spell of the drug he hated most in the world, but ultimately, could not withstand. We got his death certificate yesterday and his cause of death was Fentanyl, something he told us we would never have to worry about and that he was very afraid of. He had easy access to his dealer through Venmo and Uber, which were the last charges on his bank account the night before he died. He ultimately felt the battle was too hard and the feeling of 'nothing' was too big of a temptation in his young life, and for this we will always be sorry and wish that we could have done more to help him. We will miss our beloved brother, son, and friend deeply and forever.

Jeffrey Michael Wagner, 25, of Laurel, MD died suddenly on June 30,2018. He was born January 29,1993 in Silver Spring, MD. He attended St. Mary's School and Dematha and Laurel High Schools.

Beloved son of Becky and Jim Wagner. Beloved brother of Sister Brittany and Ally, brother in law Miguel and nephew Alexander. He also leaves his maternal grandmother Nancy Gottshall, paternal grandparents Kevin and Carla Wagner, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. He was proceeded in death by his grandfather Rick Gottshall.

Jeffrey loved the outdoors. Always riding around on his bike and skateboard. The family loved camping and the beach. They took many trips to Deep Creek Lake, Hatteras Island, and Ocean City. He was one smart cookie and a gifted artist. Jeff was a real charmer with his cute freckles and sweet smile. Taken way too young, but his memory will live on through his loved ones.

"Don't think of him as gone away, his journey's just begun. Life holds so many facets, this earth is only one. Just think of him as resting from the sorrows and the tears, in a place of warmth and comfort where there are no days and years. And think of him as living in the hearts of those he touched ... for nothing loved is ever lost and he was loved so much."