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

My sweet baby girl battled addiction for 5 years going in and out of rehab. She had been in recovery for a year and I don’t know what happened the night she overdosed because she was doing so good and seemed so happy.

James was a loving father with a heart of gold. Gis kids meant the world to him. Hw is missed by many. We love you James, may you finally be at peace. I know this is not what you wanted out of life and fought so hard to find peace without drugs. I’m sorry you couldn’t win the battle. I would do anything to have you back.

Jesse was my world and my soulmate. We had a son Grayson who is two and a half years old. Jesse was in recovery for two and a half years also and I just got the call at 4 am a week before Christmas that he was gone. We were living apart at the time but we loved each other so much. We miss and love you, Jesse, always. This is really hard. He left a son behind that he loved very much and heroin took that from him. I’m getting a tattoo this week with “ I love you to the moon and back” — that’s what he would always say to me!

Jamie Grabowski, age 47, passed away at home on August 4, 2012. Born and raised in Wilmington, Jamie was a graduate of Delcastle High School and was a master carpenter and co-owner of Tree Top Builders.

Dustin, you are missed so much by all your family! Especially your Diddy and Mama and Brother Daniel and Britt! We all miss that crooked lil grin and big heart you always had for so many, no matter your struggle💗 Till we see you again I know you are watching over us.

A very talented athlete and singer, songwriter, very compassionate with animals and people with disabilities. Loved his friends and always defended the mistreated. When he was a teen he would ask me why was the world so mean. His heart was so caring. He was a bright light in this cold world. I miss him every day.

My only sibling. Kept his business to himself. Our parents kept his addiction a secret, they thought. While their friends were keeping the same secret. Help was out of the question. All that echoed was David, you’re killing us. They eventually died, years apart. I took my brother in, but the damage was already done. My husband and I did our best. He did recover for a couple of years, but then he stepped off the path. He and I fought cause he brought it into my home, with my children, and was actively using when we walked in from vacation. I called the dealer, told him that was it. He was more important to Dave than me. He moved out and continued to move around. Broke my heart. We never spoke again. One morning I was awakened by the phone call I prayed to never get.”Do you have a brother?” “Yes.” That’s all I remember in clarity. It’s never been the same. It’s one year today. The guilt doesn’t lessen, it grows like a bad weed. The pain and struggles are gone now for Dave. That gets me through 💕

Jessica is my niece. She was a warm, loving, young woman who had empathy for others and love for everyone whom she came into contact with. A high achiever as a pianist, she ran cross country track while going through her high school years at Jefferson City High School and achieved a full scholarship to Rolla Mo. to study to become an engineer. She had goals in life.

Unfortunately, after attending college, approximately 2 years, she began to struggle with addiction. She fought for her life daily. She did find sobriety for 5 years and relapsed up until her passing. She was 33 years of age when she passed and was still fighting daily. She wanted to live a healthy life as all who suffer from this horrific disease called addiction. She never saw bad in anyone. Never blaming anyone for her addiction.

I miss my time just loving her and telling her she is worthy of a normal life. On good days I would go to her home and we would talk about my mother (her grandmother), her Paw Paw, and her other grandmother. She would talk about the love she had for her mom and dad and brother. She fought the battle daily. And she would say she just didn't want to live another day cursed with addiction. However, she kept fighting.

I miss her most precious smile, her love for her cousins, her family but most of all her partner "Duke" her boxer... She loved Duke and she is missed by her entire family. Love and miss you my sweet Jessica, Aunt Cherie.

I miss your smile and our long talks and going to Edgewater beach and sitting on the rocks listening to the waves. I just really miss you. Love Mom❤

My sister Paula got pregnant at age 14. I got the honor of being Marvin's Aunt Jody. Ge was my nephew, my brother and my friend. I am only a few years older than him.

Marvin developed a habit with heroin after many injuries to his back, and of course the drug dealer that got him hooked was a doctor. Then, of course, he stopped giving him pain meds and Marv turned to heroin to relieve his pain, and just like so many just couldn't get back the life he once had and we lost him. He was and always will be one of the best people who I have had the honor of loving and knowing, and let me tell you that smile was contagious. Ge was such a smartass, great sense of humor. He will be missed and loved for eternity.

I know how big that demon is, and these people need to know they are loved no matter what, as far as I know, God is never hiring, so it's not your job to judge. They are fighting this demon alone and when they feel so alone the demon takes them. So just make sure they know you love them whether addicted or the president. Because when it's so hard and it seems impossible to get their life back, they give up, and we never see their beautiful faces again. Nobody is better than each other so just love and support them they need you I promise it will make a difference. Please, before its too late. God Bless, now go put your arms around your loved one before you can't like me.

Loving, kind gentle man who lost his battle with addiction. Was loved by so many and is missed so very much. Miss you so much my son. 💔💔💔

My son was so intelligent and such a sport enthusiast. His favorite teams were the Rangers (Hockey) and Raiders (Football).
He was a passionate man and felt things deeply (empathy). He was a very kind guy who always felt other people’s hurts 😞. Although, he said he didn’t feel connected.
He had many hurts and struggles and had a soul sickness, but as he said, “His addiction didn’t define him.”
He was a very proud father of five children And at 36 years old he left this world on December 1st, 2019. He left behind five children-twins (boy and girl-10 years old), a 7 year-old girl, a five-year old girl, and a four year old girl. He loved to spend time teaching them about things and instilling values in them and laughing with them. He was soooo proud of them!! He always would tell me how smart and beautiful they were.
He had a Beautiful heart ❤️ And had faith in our Lord especially the last several months, his faith increased. He accepted Jesus into his life this past June ✝️❤️🙏🏻!
I tried for years to save him. I prayed and prayed and had many people who prayed ceaselessly for him. I begged, threatened, detached, enabled, cried, told him off, told him I was sorry, and then would repeat the whole process again and again. He went to a few rehabs-30 day stays but it wasn’t long enough.
These rehabs need to be longer with better trained counselors and more intense programs including Christianity as the center. Addiction has to be taken more seriously. It’s a mental Illness and needs to be identified as such.
It’s killing our children in large amounts and little is being done to stop this monster. These drugs are EVIL INCARNATE and it is among us as evil does-insidious, cunning, and baffling. It takes their souls before they even realize it. It whispers into their ears, “Come into my place of feeling good, I’ll take your pain away”, but in actuality just like EVIL 👿, it lies to them, makes them trust it, and then slowly and methodically, takes their mind, body, and spirit away until they become unidentifiable to the ones that know and love them.
Even in our society, people start to get numb to hearing about it and make generalized statements on how it is killing so many. The police and rescue workers become hardened and almost desensitized to it just to be able to handle what they have seen again and again. It steals part of their souls 💔 as they give of themselves to save as many of them as they can. They try again and again. Some survive but eventually it has become commonplace and called “an epidemic" but little changes and more and more die. To me, I see the story of the Revelations...right before our very eyes.

I miss rubbing your ears Charlie Brown, and you kissing me on the forehead after you would visit me. And singing the Camp Taylor song. A song about a bar in the neighborhood I grew up in. Thank you for your Christmas present of singing me the song the year before you died. And while it is incredibly difficult to march forth here on this earth, there is great consolation in knowing I’ll see you on the other side of eternity. Love, Mom

Handsome, smart, fun, hardworking, loving. The outside didn’t show the struggles on the inside. Miss you every second of every day.

I miss so many things about her but her laugh most of all!! She had the best laugh ever!! It warmed my heart and made me smile whenever I heard it! She was my dream come true after a 10 year battle with infertility. Our firstborn daughter via IVF. She was and will always be loved and missed by all her family and friends and especially her son Jaxton Arthur who was just two years old at the time of our tragic loss.

My 30 year son, a 10 year journeyman electrician, husband, and father of two beautiful children agreed to enter treatment on May 16. He died on the 14th day of a drug overdose. He was in rehab and had just detoxed. This should have been the highest secured area of the center. What happened? I urge ALL parents and family members to ask critical questions when checking someone in to any rehab...what are your measurable outcomes and have there been any other deaths? What are your security measures and how well staffed is your facility? You must continue to be an advocate for your loved one in treatment. They should never die inside a treatment facility from an overdose.

Kristopher was my brother, my best friend, and he was the best uncle to my two daughters. They loved him so much and they were his world. He unfortunately battled this disease that so many of us know and struggle with. I WOULD DO ANYTHING to change the night he passed .... I KNOW HE IS AT PEACE NOW THOUGH AND NOT SICK ANYMORE. We all miss him terribly. TILL WE MEET AGAIN KRISTOPHER. REST IN PEACE BRO. I LOVE AND MISS YOU TO DEATH!!
Love,
Your sister
Kourtney

Loving son, brother, uncle, and nephew. But most importantly, loving Daddy. His smile would light up the room. Miss his infectious laugh. I can’t wait to see him again in heaven. ❤️❤️❤️

My Husband Santiago ♥️ He was the best grandfather ever. He was a loving, caring, and kind man to everyone he met. He was loved by so many people. Unfortunately the disease of alcoholism consumed his body and took him away from me way too soon. I miss him very much, every day. I find comfort knowing he is no longer suffering and in pain. And I know that one day we will be together again.