Six months ago my beautiful youngest son died of an overdose of prescription drugs(dihydrocodiene) Daniel had been at university for only a term and a half, and had started to use drugs as part of university lifestyle. He had also been taking cocaine, MDMA, and valium- all apparently easily bought on our streets. We were completely unaware of his drug use, he came home at least once a month and was still the happy healthy boy that we knew. Daniel was just 20 years old, he had his whole life in front of him, so many things he will never see or do. Our lives have been shattered,I feel that I went around with my eyes closed as I was so unaware of what lay in wait on the streets of our towns and cities. I would like to say to other kids out there - if you see someone struggling with drug use, TELL SOMEONE , if only someone had told us we might not be in this never ending nightmare now.

For my son Matthew Nematz, who died 5/19/13 of an overdose of fentanyl and alcohol. Matt was 27 when he died. I will always remember you with joy, your smile and your sense of humor. I miss you terribly and so do all your aunts, uncles, cousins and of course Grandpa. My life is completely different without you. There is a hole where you should be. And yet I know you are close, I’ve had so many signs of your presence. I am so grateful for that. I miss you sweetness. Love you too.

I lost my firstborn, my son Kane to opiate addiction two years and ten days ago. Our family chain is broken and nothing is the same.

To my mom I love you, and can't believe you have been gone for 9 years.  I miss you everyday and wish you still were her with me.  I wish you hadn't taken your anti-depressants that day.  If you hadn't, you still would be here.  I love you and will always miss you.  See you in Heaven Mommy.  

Well it's been a little over a week since i lost you.  My handsome, caring father lost his battle with addiction...  I miss you so much.  There are so many people that love and miss you so much dad.  I just wish you could see that.  You were the most compassionate, selfless person i know but your demons got the best of you.  I'm happy that you can rest now and you're no longer fighting.  I love and miss you.  AFS September 2nd, 1964 - October 30th, 2014. We will never forget you

On April 7th this year one of my best friends who I loved with all my heart lost his decades long battle with opiate addiction. Ryan was a beautiful young man who came to Iowa from California in a last ditch effort to get clean in 2013. He would have turned 36 this past June. He was a rare soul, whose kindness and warmth made everyone around him feel like everything was going to be okay. He was quiet and reserved and ultra sensitive and had a sense of presence - of really being there with you in the present moment like no one I'd ever met before or since. I keep searching for a photo of him I took one spring as the sun was setting outside this farm house where I was staying in Iowa. Him and I were both early on in recovery, both clean and sober, hanging out, throwing old scrap wood in a burn barrel and laughing. In the picture he was smiling with his whole face - all dimples from the corners of his eyes to his lips. He had so much hope at that time. I can't find the photo, but I'll never loose the memory of him, or forget how he made me feel. I love you Ryan, and miss you every day. <3

My beautiful Samantha lost her battle with addiction on March 1, 2016. Her battle was quick and intense. My Sam was intelligent, quick witted and had a fantastic giggle. People loved her instantly. Although she lost her battle with the addiction she won this war because she is free of the addiction now. I have a beautiful guardian angel. My Sam you will always be young, you will always be beautiful! Samantha Lee 03/27/95-03/01/16

I will spend the rest of my life helping people that suffer from addiction in place of the one person I couldn't.
Rest in peace Frankie Semencar. I know you didn't want this to happen and I will never forget about you.

Philadelphia

My wonderful daughter, my friend, sleeping in my bed. But you were not asleep. How do I go on without you, 44 years old and every day a blessing, I just never thought it would turn into a reality. How do I deal with this piece of me you have taken with you. I remember the first time you moved inside me. This time I couldn't get you to move. How I loved you, You didn't want to go, we had just bought all those flowers for your garden. As hard as it was every day you kept at it, Addiction gripped you so tightly that it killed you in the end. I hope it isn't the end for you. I so hope you get to realise your potential, we told you so many times you could do whatever you wanted with that bright,.witty, funny, aware, intelligent mind you had. And you were so beautiful. The longer it is the harder it is, I miss you more after speaking to you so often for so many years. I love you Heidi, as you well knew and not even your death will ever change that. You were my special daughter, Be Happy

To: Becky You will be deeply missed by so many who loved being with you. It is difficult to know you could not find the peace you deserved in your life. This world was a better place for all who knew you and we will remember the blessing you were to each of us in your own very special way. Rest in peace.

My first born child, Anthony Fiore, born on 10/11/89 and went to heaven 05/31/2014 is missed and loved by so many people. He was a true and loyal friend. He was intelligent and always had a GPA of 3.5 or higher without studying. He saw all people the same, made by God. He was an integral part of the family, and his last 8 months of life he was sober, for which I will always be grateful. He used to call me "Mudder" and hung out with his younger brother Nick. I miss seeing my 2 boys together, I miss hearing him call me Mudder, and I miss his beautiful face. We love you always and forever Anthony. Until we meet again, Mom.

I lost my beautiful first-born, Aidan, to a heroin/methamphetamine overdose on July 4, 2015. I fight for him. I fight for all of us who have or love someone with SUD. No one should have to bury a 19-year-old. Ever.

Minot, ND USA

My sweet Bo,I loved you with all of my heart and soul, and I stood by you as long as I could,but my heart was breaking, and I was getting very sick.I had to let you go.I tried to be strong for the both of us but I was weary.I miss you so much,it feels like someone has ripped my heart out.Your death has left me with such an emptiness,and  a terrible void.When I set you free I knew one day I would get the call that you were gone,but it is still a shock.I am grieving so hard for the man that one day I wanted to marry,but yesterday instead of buying my wedding dress,I wore a black dress.I only wish that you could have felt how much I loved you.I will always love you,you hold a special place in my heart.Rest in Peace my love.

We lost our son, Mark, 3 years ago yesterday.  This has been the roughest year yet. Not sure why.  Mark loved life. When he met people for the first time his smile and jovial attitude charmed everyone. He loved to see the people he loved to be happy.  He loved adventure.  When his dear fried died of an overdose, he helped to organize a huge memorial in the park for him.  Then Mark passed away 3 months later from an overdose, after being clean for 2 years.  He was to be engaged the day he died.  We will never forget his love for his family and how hard he fought his addiction.  We are so proud of the strength he had to fight.

John Joseph Hurtuk IV 10/10/90-06/27/16 25 years 8 months 17 days Son, brother, uncle, friend. An amazing worker, fisherman to be exact. He was going on back to back trips so he could stay clean, bringing in thousands of dollars and still managed to stay sober. Until that one day that he decided one more time would be okay, it wasn't okay. My first forever friend was taken away by heroin, he fought so hard to get clean, to stay clean. Remember that one last time could be your last time. Forever missed, forever loved, never forgotten. I love you John I hope your story can help to save a life, I won't let your death be in vain.

Travis John, TJ, my "baby" brother. Kind, gentle, loving, funny, outstanding athlete, Son, brother, uncle. We miss you every second of every day. It will be 5 years since you left us on 9/28 and it seems like yesterday and a lifetime ago, all at the same time. Your struggle is over. Until we meet again. Love you.

I lost my sweet Brandon on April 26, 2013 to a heroin overdose. The day he died, a part of me died with him! My life will NEVER be the same without him! Such a senseless waste of life! He was such a loving & caring person. He loved his family very much! Because he came from such a loving family, I would never have thought that he would turn to drugs. But it seems that heroin has no mercy, and it affects people from ALL walks of life! Rich, poor, young, old, etc...........Something needs to be done to put a stop to our losing our loved ones, to this horrible addiction! I can't think of ANYTHING worse than losing your child, and my heart goes out to all the parents who are "walking in the same shoes" as me. The guilt, why, and what-if's that consume our minds, is often unbearable! I try to find peace in knowing that my son is no longer suffering with the pain and anguish of his addiction. Instead, he is at peace with his Lord. Still-I miss him SO much! It has been 2 years since he passed away-yet I still think about him each and every day! NOBODY knows the pain, unless they've been there! He was 29 years old when he passed away-but he was still my baby! My thoughts and prayers go out to ALL those, who have lost a loved one to an overdose!

My dearest Friend Brittani, Its been a month and I can't believe it still. Not sure I will ever completely accept this. I wish I could hold you or talk with you one more time so I can tell u how very important you are to me and how happy having you in my life has made me. B you will be forever missed and never forgotten. I can't wait to see your face again. I love you. Love always Sarah  (your forever friend)

I miss my son Szymon every day. I blame myself that i didn't protect you and didn't do enough. I got comfortable thinking that you are getting help and that you will be OK. How wrong was I. Life is really hard even though it will be 2 years soon since you left.  It doesn't get any easier and it shouldn't; you are not here and not coming back. We all miss you very much. Love you with all my heart. Mum

To: Benjamin Kennedy Cartwright Benny Boy you were the light of my life, and the heart and soul of all our family. Your father loved you and your siblings adored you. You were also the naughtiest little devil going around. In your short 23 years you crammed more into those years, than most people do in a lifetime. When you were at your "worst" you would play the piano for me to calm me down it worked every time. Your legacy to all of us was you made the sun shine brighter for all of us and the Frank Sinatra song "I Did it My Way" was your anthem and we played it at your funeral as well as "Benny and The Jets". The world lost a talented young man the day you died. Rest easy my darling boy my "Blonde Bombshell" Forever Young Your loving mother, father and siblings

I have had several family members die of an addiction.  I wish there was no stigma.  I wish there was more help.  I miss my cousin Dougie.  We use to talk almost every day.  He wanted a better life more than anything.  He tried several times but he kept getting pulled back into the realms of addiction. I hope he is at peace now.  My son is in recovery, I pray everyday for him.  He has almost 2 years sobriety, but it haunts me everyday.  He has overdosed before but thankfully survived.  Please keep our hearts open to those suffering.  Instead of judging we need to pray and help them.

Weeum, it's been 5 years and I guess it's safe to say now that there will always be a piece missing from my heart that you took with you to the big guy upstairs. Many days I would rather be with you than down here. Hope with all of my everything that I'll see you again one day. I love you.

You will never know how much you were loved and missed

Raleigh, NC

Tomorrow marks two months since you were taken from this earth. The pain that death brings is unbearable and what's worse is knowing that it was perhaps preventable. It is true that "no one here gets out alive," but it is also true that souls can be taken before their time. This is what drugs are doing to our loved ones; they're consuming their souls while they are still alive until there's nothing left in their hearts to keep it beating. You were the hero of my life Dad and weren't "destined" to your tragic demise. You were a master carpenter, an artist, who is still alive today in the great skyscrapers you've built throughout New York City. Our war on drugs has failed, as deaths from overdose continue to skyrocket year after year. Let's get together and bring this horrific epidemic out of the dark and into the light of awareness. Love Always and Forever, Your Daughter

To Brice James Wood, My Beautiful Son.  I love you so much & am so proud of you for being sober for 3 months.  I thought because you were living in a sober living facility, you would be safe.  I blame myself for so many things and I am so sorry I failed you.  I just want this to be a bad dream.  I want this to be a dream & I will wake up and then I will understand you had an illness and I would call you everyday and I would drive to Houston and visit you more and I would not let this happen to you.  I don't know how to live without you here.  I cannot believe this has happened.  I count the days until I can be with you again.  I'm so sorry, I love you more than anyone & anything.  I only hope you know this. Be safe my darling

My forever 30 year old son James Masciantonio Jr. 11/27/1984-2/27/2015. (Philadelphia, Folsom PA & Delray Beach, Indian Shores FL)   My world is forever changed without my son, nothing matters anymore, nothing feels good, no reason to smile, laugh or just enjoy......  I hate saying but that's how I feel.  My son was beautiful, kind, loving, a true gentleman, intelligent, he had a gift to make me laugh, his laugh was contagious even when they were few and far between.   Unfortunately, Jimmy was sick and the system failed.  Two thirds of his life he used some sort of drug just to feel "normal" as he would say.  We tried doctor after doctor to treat his depression.  He would found recovery back in 2009, he was dedicated to the program, we fell in love and fathered a child; my now 6 year old grandson and my son's namesake.   After having surgery in 2011 he suffered a relapse and struggled ever since.  His girlfriend kicked him out of the home, separated from his son who adored him.   From 2013-2015 he lived with me, it was difficult, I watched him struggle everyday just to deal with life..... Mid January 2015 he wanted to be back closer to his son and moved.  But that was not meant to be, he wasn't allowed by the mother of his child to see his son and became even more depressed.  Unexpectedly, he relapsed and returned to heroin but this time it was laced fentanyl.  He was clean and sober for 6 months.  A murderer walks the streets of Florida dealing heroin laced with fentanyl!   Rest in Peace my Angel Son, you earned it.  http://slide.ly/view/857067633eb2b9492b038aa9bb9d4830?utm_source=Fb_ORG_Share

Tomorrow will be three years since we lost you Danny. I miss you every minute of every day. Dad, David, Cassie and Chrissie too. My beautiful boy. My heart, my soul, my angel. I was blessed to have you for 25 years. Continue to give me strength. I will need it. Forever in our hearts.

In loving memory of my friend Eric Aul, (07/26/85-12/18/12) who tried so valiantly to conquer his demons. R.I.P. You will live forever in my heart and although your death causes me immense pain, my fond memories of you bring me great joy. See you at the crossroads!

Jilisa, I now know what you meant about how you d never be able to live with out it! I to went through the battle and I keep fighting them everyday. I refuse to let them win and you help drive that. I love you and miss you so much. 8/29/2011

Rest in Heaven Jessie Manning you were a great friend and deserved so much better than what you had in life. I'm sorry heroin took your life you had a horrible disease and you tried to get clean for your children but you lost your battle im glad your at peace in Heaven. Have a wonderful after life cause living that life was not what you wanted and you never have to worry about living like that again. See you one day again beautiful you were a great friend. I love you and miss you bunches

Middletown, Ohio

We lost our son, Jesse to an overdose on January 18, 2015.  He languished for 19 days until he died on February 5, 2015.  He never regained consciousness after we found him in the bedroom, totally blue faced.  I performed CPR as we waited for the ambulance to arrive.  It seemed like an eternity before they finally came to our home.  The police and firetrucks arrived first but they did not have Narcaine  or the ability to administer it.  By the time they took him out of our home, Jesse was breathing again.  The EMT's assured us that he would make it.  The next day we met his younger brother Paul at the hospital and we had a meeting with the Doctors.  They said they were performing tests and couldn't tell us much at that point.  The Doctor did end the meeting by saying, "miracles happen all the time".  We were in such shock, that we couldn't hear what the Doctor was trying to tell us.  Then we went into see our son. He was on a ventilator and hooked up to many tubes etc.  We still believed he would make it. He was only 31 years old, after all, way too young to die.  No one had said he wouldn't so far.  Three days later we attended a meeting with the Doctors and they told us Jesse was in a Persistent Vegetative State and would not come out of it.  We agreed to take him off the ventilator that evening.  Surprise, Jesse could breathe on his own.  We were very positive that he would come out of this coma like state and say "Hey, what's going on?"  He did not come out of his PVS and we eventually had him transferred to Hospice.  They kept him sedated for 5 more days until he finally took his last breath at 2:20 am.  The addiction was over, his wife and children were left with no father or spouse.  We were left without our beautiful perfect son that we had taken such a delight in his birth and all his milestones.  A year and a half later his father can't work, they say he has Complicated Grief.  We think of Jesse every minute of everyday.  We miss him, we love him and we wouldn't wish him back with the disease of addiction to fight again, for one minute.  He fought long and hard and he lost.  We all lost a wonderful young man, who loved with all his heart, was an amazing Dad, Son, Brother and Spouse.  Jesse will never be forgotten as long as all of us take a breath.  And that will be a long, long time as he left a daughter 10 years old and a son 2 years old.

My dearest daughter Jennifer died of a meth overdose on 5/5/13 and I have no happiness without you.  I love you

To all who suffer the loss of their child. I am another mom who has lost my one and only daughter, Allison, at the age of 27, and to a drug overdose. The drugs won and she lost her battle with addiction. She was in her bed in her apartment and died. It's been almost three years and today I cannot be silent. Today unfortunately someone else's child will also lose their life as a result of a drug overdose. Hoping to share in my daughter Allison's memory, I wish you all my sympathies for these are tragic losses, which no one can deny are epidemic in their numbers. It's a day of Remembrance, but it needs to be a time to take a stand against drug importing, and pharmaceuticals not being controlled. Our children are paying with their lives for the greed of others. Addiction is a disease brought on by drugs and the combinations are killing without discrimination. Let us not be silent.

The days go by and our lives are never the same. We welcomed a new little boy into our lives just seven months after you left us….he speaks about you always….we keep you in our lives through our little grandson everyday. He and his soon to be little brother will never have the pleasure of sitting on your surf board with you as they learn how to ride the waves. Tim you rode all of the good waves with dad and we rode the rough waves together!!! In our hearts we will always know that you tried your best and struggled everyday with this horrible affliction that is called addiction!!! With you holding us up we have pledged to make a difference and make addiction no more. Tim I love and miss you everyday. Love Mom

My Darling grandson Darrick: You tried to fight your demons but alcohol and drugs were not the answer. The two years you lived with us were the most important years of my life. Important because of the lessons I needed to learn. I loved you so much. There is a memorial in our back yard for you and the flag is in it. After you died, you made your presence known by what happened with the flag. I made a video for Youtube called "Overdosed-Should have called 911." It was just released. Maybe we can help save one more life. Linda and I are having a Civil Union. I so wanted you there. I talk to you every day. I love you, Bubbi

We will remember you always. Our brown eyed boy. Love you forever, mom and Dad, Eric and Caleb

On September 7 2015 Our beautiful daughter,mommy,sissy, granddaughter auntie, Felisha "LaRae" Jackson-Hatch Our beautiful angel was injected w Fentanyl n Heroin by 2 evil people who she thought was her friends..Her oldest daughter ran inside to find her mommy face down in an ashtray w a cigarette still burning then called her grandpa who stayed on the phone w her till he drove to our first born baby girl ..it took him less than 2 minutes to get to her then her dad worked on her for 25 minutes and has nightmares of this whole overdose of our daughter LaRae forever 28 yrs old left behind 3 beautiful girls ages 9,6 & 2 ,2 brothers 25,12 & 1 sister 23.. LaRae was a great mommy n was so proud she had a new niece and loved her very much..We are still waiting to hear from the FBI on her murder.. RIP OUR SWEET ANGEL F.L.J.H forever 28

Kristie my 1st born my only daughter. She got lost after bad divorce from abusive man after 18 years of marriage. He I could say drove her, but she was weak. She told me she did a little cocaine and than was shown how to do crack. I am telling you she was only a mom to her 2 children, until she was found dead by her 17 year old daughter - something she never wanted to happen. She wanted off the drugs. She was fighting so many demons. Our life will never be the same. Her 2 children never be the same. RIP MY BEAUTIFUL daughter

EAST Taunton

My daughters dad lost his life to a methadone overdose a few weeks before his 22nd birthday. We miss him dearly and the pain all of his family and myself have felt is unbearable. Rip Jon Michael

For Cory, Your beautiful heart lives on each and every day. Your inspiration is the light that guides us to the winds of change and your helpful spirit will continue to live on and make a difference. We love and miss you.

To my dearest Aunt, who lost her battle to addiction on 6/16/16. May you Rest In Peace now and have a home with God, free from your every day struggles. Words could not describe the amount of love I have for you. I miss you immensely and so does the family.

Philadelphia

My Heart-28081999

*Jeanne Jones* A Saturday morning does not go by that I do not miss your friendship and our many laughs.together. I know you are at peace and I will see you again one day. You are gone but not forgotten my friend. XOXO

This is in Remembrance of Shellie Maxwell. She was My Mom and my Best Friend, She was the ONLY One who was their for me. My Father wasn't in my Life, All I Had was my MOM, She More than Made up for my Father. My Mom was Hurt at Work Almost a Decade ago, She Battled the Pain through the Years. They Prescribed her Every Type of Pain Pill Known to MAN! She Remained Strong through it All. She Passed Away July 2nd 2015 from an Accidental Prescription Overdose! Im HER SON, The One who is writing this to Remember my MOM. She Put me through A lot, Being the Only Support for my MOM. Ive Seen her at her WORST and Her Best! She was Trying to Make the Change that She NEEDED to In Life! She Wanted to get off the Prescriptions SOOO Bad! But that takes Time, And Time was NOT on HER Side. They had my Mom on so Many Prescriptions that it Seemed like they were TRYING to Kill Her! Rest In Paradise MOM! I Will Miss you Until we MEET Again! These Past 10 Years haven't been the Most Exciting, But A tleast we Were Together and were Happy. Please SAVE YOUR LOVED ONE BEFORE ITS TOO LATE! I Wish I Woudve done it for my MOM! :(

We lost our son Tony to a heroin overdose. We are forever changed and damaged. If only we could have saved this loving, kind and special boy~

RIP Terrance Whaley II, 6/28/98 - 4/16/2014 Awareness of addiction, Needs to be a War on Addiction. Too many kids dying every day, and what is the Govt doing! Mental Illness is not addressed. My son needed long term treatment for his addictions and his Mental Illness which was brought on by the pills he became addicted to. This shouldn't happen to any parent .

To my baby brother Andrew 2.24.89 - 10.16.12. I wish I could have saved you. You died alone of a meth overdose and I feel like it was my role to protect you. I failed. As a society we failed you. I am lost without you.

Remembering a young man today, who gave the world his trust and the most beautiful smiles, despite living such a troubled life. Thank you for touching so many lives. I wish it hadn't all been over too soon. I hope that you are safe and happy now. You are missed.

November 21, 2016 is the day my whole life changed and I lost the love of my life. My loving husband Daniel E. Swatsworth. He was also a wonderful father to 3 beautiful children. We became victims of the disease of addiction after years of using drugs and the summer of 2016 is when we really let it take over our lives. We began using harder drugs more and more and eventually lost everything. Daniel was my best friend and my husband. He never hurt me or our children and he was always there. He had many friends and everyone adored him. We were never a day apart for 7 years and we were married for 3 of those years. Our 3 year anniversary was November 15, 2016. He was only 30 years old, still had a whole life ahead of him. I also lost my sister, Cassandra D. Taylor, 7 years ago to the disease and she is missed dearly every single day. I am currently in outpatient treatment and involved in the NA 12 step program. I go to meetings regularly and I'm doing it for me first, and then for our children and then of course for my husband. This is a tribute for my husband and my sister to spread awareness about addiction and its effects on families and friends. It's a horrible and misunderstood disease and it's killing people everyday. I wish that no one has to experience the loss I have went through and that many other people have went through. We all need to get together and help stop this is epidemic.

Lockport, NY

My son, Kenny Aronckes Jr., received his angel wings on August 25, 2015 due to an accidental overdose. He was 31 years old & left behind a 4 year old daughter Bella, parents, family & friends....all heartbroken. We will always cherish the memories we have of him. Love you to the Moon and back, Kenny!