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

My dear son, Matt, was a loving son with the biggest heart--he loved his family and friends very much. He leaves behind me, his dad, three brothers (one younger and two older), three nieces, and one nephew. Matt was an athlete who excelled at basketball at only 5'6". His dream was to be 6 feet tall so he could dunk. 🙂 Matt was an honors student all through school and went on to obtain his MBA. He worked and loved his job as a realtor. He was hardworking and had big dreams until that one day when addiction took over.

Matt's struggle began later in his life after a couple of Percocets were given to him by a friend who told him they are not addicting. From there he started using heroin. Got sober for awhile from that and then was prescribed Adderall for ADHD. His addiction got progressively worse after that. He lost his battle one day after his 32nd birthday this past January 19th. Our hearts are broken forever...our family will never be the same without our Matt.

I miss My Sweet Girl more than anything in this world. She was a very strong young lady. She had great hopes of becoming a veterinarian when she finished school. She had big dreams that I really wish I could've seen her accomplish. I can only tell myself God had different plans for her. Rest in Heaven My Sweet Girl.

Cody had a heart that was too big for this world! He was a beautiful boy that was loved fiercely. Our hearts ache for his unfinished life.

My baby boy was a loving, caring, son, brother, friend, and daddy. He was always willing to help anyone, be it family or friend. He tried to help people struggling with addiction as well. He lost his fight with addiction and the world lost a loving, caring person.
Love and miss you every day Joey.

Jason had a tender heart and a warped sense of humor. Those closest to him will say he was their most reliable friend. Many say he was their best friend. Even more say their only friend.

Jason had immeasurable knowledge and passion for all facets of metal and rock & roll. Music was his sanity. His sanctuary. His home.

The most important role he played was daddy to his now 9-year-old daughter. He will always be her hero.

Godspeed ~

Alisha had a heart of gold. She would always try to find the good in everyone. Her smile would light up the room. She was a friend to everyone. Most of all she was a mom, a great mom. Her daughter, Kirah is almost 12 and learned to be kind and selfless from her mom. It's been a tough year for all of us but especially her daughter. We continue talking about Alisha everyday hoping it will somewhat ease our pain of losing her and keep her memory alive.

Hi, my name is Pat. My very best friend of 25 years, Amber, was addicted to heroine. She had picked up this addiction while I had run away to California for a couple years and when I came back she was already at the beginning of her divorce, in which she lost the children to her husband. That was the beginning of a downward spiral.

We stayed in touch but she moved to a bigger city to open her own hair salon. But the money went fast. Even though she was doing great and was actually very successful. She ended up having to close it down.

Around this time I met a girl that I ended up marrying. Amber and I did date when we first met. I have actually been in absolute love with her since but... hindsight you know?

Anyway, I got married and my new wife was not so nice or good to me. She introduced me to meth. I don't blame her. I was a big boy.

So, I party hard and I wasn't safe with using the needle and ended up getting an infection that caused me to have 23 strokes. I died two times and they had to replace one of my heart valves. This was in 2015. My Amber was scared and mad and she made me promise not to leave her like that. Oh and against all odds I make a 98% recovery.

Jump to June 2019. She moves in with me. My dream comes true. The love of my life is with me and it's perfect! She needs help to stop using so I help her get through. She falls a few times but she keeps trying.

She had discussed with her mother and daughter about moving to Colorado where they live so the plan was for her to go first and I would follow as soon as she got a place and was ready.

After a ton of preparing ,the day came on the 19th of October. We hugged and kissed goodbye. Said see you later but it took her three times as long to get there as it should have. By the time she did get there she was having trouble walking into her mom's house. I believe she had already had her first stroke. Her mom said she would take care of her because she just had a fever. I told her mother what I believed was happening. The same as happened to me--a staph infection from shooting up was hurting the love I had been waiting for my whole life.

Amber wasn't getting better. I did talk to her on the phone one last time. I also spoke on text with her one more time. It was clear to me. My baby was having more strokes.

The next day Amber was unresponsive. Her mom got her to the hospital but it was too late. Her heart kept stopping.

The love of my life, loving mother of two, and the most beautiful woman inside and out died on November 4th 2019.
Why her? Because she was an addict that used the needle and at least once she was careless. Why did God spare me? Man, I have no idea. I love her and miss her so incredibly much.
Pray for all those addicted and if you see one struggling. Give them an ear or a hand with love not judgment.

Thanks for reading Amber's story
I love you Amber 1231🍀

Casey struggled with addiction after her children went to stay with their paternal grandmother, who told her she would never keep her children from her. Casey believed her and gave her temporary custody just till she could get on her feet and get a place to live. Her husband wouldn't get up and go to work so they were evicted from their apartment. Her daughter was 18 months old and her son was three. Well her husband's mother who claimed to be a Christian kept the children and would not even allow her to have a photo of them. She fought for 14 years. All during this time she went from taking pills to shooting up anything she could get her hands on. She went in and out of jail and prison during this time. Her last time arrested she asked the judge to keep her locked up after he said she could have a personal bond. She told him she was an addict and would surely die if he let her go home. She spent a year in jail and when she came home she was happy to be sober. Her daughter wanted to meet her and hear her side of the story. It was great. She finally had her children back. Her daughter at 17 finally calling her mom and she spent a week with her. Her sons were both happy to be in her life. We all thought that things were good for her finally having her kids back. She became a grandma and got to see her granddaughter be born. She kept her grandson for a week so her son could spend time with his little girl. She was 18 months sober and was doing great on probation. She was finally happy. But on October 16 of this year I received a call from her sister that she had overdosed and passed away. My heart broke and the hardest thing I ever had to do was call her children to tell them she had passed away.

Dave was my youngest and only brother. He was a loner, but would give you the shirt off his back. Dave kept everything deep inside, his drug of choice was cocaine but as years went on, alcohol became a friend among others. Dave drove a tractor trailer for a living. He could make you laugh so hard that would take your breathe away! He was close with my boys and my grandchildren. He was my oldest Godfather (ironic). He was there for us when able.... He passed this year of a drug overdose. That phone call will never leave my brain or the vision I portrayed, listening to the words your brother is gone. We have all of our times to remember and share with each other. I wouldn’t give up the tough times that taught and strengthened us all. Until we meet again Dave ❤️

Erica,
You fought so hard with your battle of addiction. In the end, the Evil won.You were funny, outgoing, and goodhearted. Then this demon of addiction turned you into someone no one knew. You tried to hide it but the years had taken it's toll. We miss you so much Erica. I cannot even bring myself to go to your grave. You loved Christmas and the decorating. This is the first year without you. So many memories. Your children miss you. Your siblings miss you. I know I will never be the same but I also know the moment you left us, God reached out His hand and grabbed yours, saying, "My Child your pain is over. You're with your family in Heaven." I have to believe this. Rest easy my daughter. I Will Always Love You!!!

He really was a good person.

Terry was my first born son, and the first love of my life. He was an awesome kid. He just wanted to be loved. The demons took over and he lost his battle. Losing him has shattered my family's life and nothing will ever be the same. I blame myself. I miss him more each day and as long as I breathe I will speak his name everyday. I will continue to keep his memory alive always. Terry you are so missed and loved beyond measure. Forever 29 💔

My son grew up with many friends. He was always the class clown and loved sports. All sports. If he had gone in the direction of baseball further, I believe he could have earned a scholarship. He was the one I would always hear the other parents say, "Oh we have to stand up, this is the kid that always hits the homers." I would grin from ear to ear, thinking that's my boy. His stepfather raised him with me. When we met he was eight years old. He helped him with his love of sports, coaching, and attending games of the sports teams in Philadelphia he loved so much. He had a few trials along the way, as we all do. My parents passing away in 1995 only nine months apart from each other and since I was young when I had him and his biological father left to go in the army when he was young, thankfully they helped us a lot. He was my mom's pride and joy, and he could do no wrong in her eyes.
He decided in 2009 to get in touch with his biological father. I tried to discourage him since he hadn't reached out to him since he was two and I didn't want to see my son hurt. He said, "Mom, I'm a man now. I can handle it." So, we got in touch and he came up and spent that Thanksgiving with us. In a way, it was like a fairy tale - we all reconnected and my son saw his mother and father rekindle. In January of the next year, 2010, we remarried and he moved with us to PA from AL. He wasn't used to the snow, we had a rough winter that year and he was looking for work. He went on three interviews and we were keeping his spirits up. Though we didn't know how he was really feeling. On February 27, 2010 my son's father took a walk and never returned. Later, he was found in a park - he had taken his life.
That was my son's demise....He carried around a lot of anger, guilt, and many other emotions. He began using pills first that I'm aware of and within a few years it progressed to coke, crack, and heroine. He was in rehab five times, two recovery houses and the crisis center a few times.
In October 2018, he went into a recovery house in Philly. I was skeptical but he was a man and had to make his own choices. He thrived, he loved the meetings, made a lot of friends, chaired meetings, and went back to the rehabs he had been in to talk to the patients of his journey.
He made it two weeks shy of his one year sober anniversary. When he chaired the meetings, he would always say "let's get deep." The past year of his life was a gift, I got to see my son again underneath the disease, yet better - more humble and grateful. We had many deep conversations filled with tears and laughter. We made memories I will treasure always. He fought hard, I know he did. I saw it - he prospered -looked healthy and most of all the lost, hollow look in his eyes were gone. Yet, the horrific disease of addiction was always there lurking around. I'm not sure what made him turn back, as he was eagerly counting the day until his one year anniversary. I know he didn't want to die and I know in my heart he loved me dearly. At least, many of his friends through recovery tell me over and over. I miss him dearly, I talk to him everyday and I pray one day, I can find the peace he did just on this side and hopefully be able to share his story. If I'm able to save one person, it will be worth it.

Danny was my nephew and an amazing young man. He struggled with addiction for 10+ years. He was funny, handsome, kind, and his smile could light up a room. I miss talking to him and hearing his voice. He had the prettiest blue eyes that could look right through you. I hope he has found peace. I can only pray.

Keely was a mother of two boys, Kaleb and Kayden. She had the prettiest smile you’ve ever seen, and was loving, funny, and always joking. Her story is she died of an overdose. The people she was with chose to drive her miles and miles and leave her in a mobile home instead of getting her help. They could have dropped her off anywhere. I miss her every minute of every day. It should be her at all the school functions, holidays, and birthdays. Merry Christmas in heaven, Keely Rae ❤️

TC was a creative soul. He loved life and lived it to the fullest. He was kind, loving, smart, strong, fearless never met a stranger. To know him was to love him and his laugh and sense of humor.

Emma was my only child. A gift I always wanted. A daughter to name Emma. I wasn't able to have children so she was adopted in 1990 from Bucharest, Romania. It was love at first site. About 2001, she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. The meds didn't always help and when she was about 18 she began to self-medicate and eventually started heroin. Not a steady user. Emma would stop for months at a time. Then it just engulfed her. I tried and tried to help but eventually she succumbed to it. I miss her with every part of my existence. I still thank God for giving her to me for 25 years.

Danny was a loving son, brother, father, and friend. He loved all people and tried to find positivity in everything. He had a very good sense of humor and was loved by many. An inspiration in death.

My kindhearted son. A loving father. Always joking and making others laugh no matter what. Such a void in our hearts. Sadly missed. ❤🧡💜💚💛