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

My Matthew was one of the most kind, intelligent, lovable caring soul!! From the first day he was born till the day of his death he was a fighter!! We never gave up on him--he just gave up on himself!! We loved Matthew as if he was the only soul on this earth!! We miss him and think of him every second of the day!! 143 my sweet angel

Jacob attended Hendersonville High School where he was a member of the Commando Basketball team. He loved all sports and played on the AAU TN Panthers basketball team. He also enjoyed music and video games. He was a selfless, fun, goofy guy who wore his heart on his sleeve. Jacob would light up a room and above all else, he loved his family. We will always miss him and forever hold him in our hearts. 

My angel Joseph was the most loving and kind hearted soul. Joseph had a fierce sense of humor. You were always laughing with him!!! He was an amazing person.
He struggled with this opiate addiction pretty sure 2 years before we lost him.
He tried!! He did go into treatment few times!!! I was unaware of this opiate addiction for a while. He was 24 and working and living with his aunt to get back and fourth.
I ended up having to have him sectioned. Meaning he was a danger to himself and others. This was to himself. Was trying to get that done while he was in the hospital from his 13th overdose. They made it almost impossible. Well they agreed. In he went. I figured he’ll hate me. But I KNEW WITHOUT a doubt I was losing him. Well he came out of the facility and was taking vivatrol. One shot a month. He did it for 2 months. And that 3rd month we lost him. 25 years old. Joseph has a huge family and was absolutely adored!! A lot of friends and people who loved him ... I cannot believe it still. He adored his younger sister like I can’t explain. Extremely protective.
I know if I completely crumble, not WHAT HE WOULD want!! Dealing or struggling through this is a pain I will never be able to explain. Thank God for my daughter and family. I did really hold on. Get up, stop, you have a beautiful daughter. I realized I will have this pain as we all will forever.
Did I want to celebrate any holiday? Absolutely not. Then I felt like he was letting me know how selfish that is. You have no right to take that from my sister. She’s 20. I have made small steps because of the love my son and his sister had. No matter what, I cannot take all of this away from her.
Today I struggle everyday. There’s not a second I don’t think of him. I miss him like I cannot explain. May god bless my son.
I know he’s with the angels. This will never go away!!! One minute at a time. 🙏🙏

My Nicholas struggled with pills and then moved on to heroin. We fought until the very end, 6 years of struggling, on Oct 18th 2016. I got the call I knew was coming! He really tried so hard, he just couldn’t fight it anymore! He was 24 years old December 15. We will celebrate his life. 4 bdays without him! We miss him terribly. He was smart, funny, good looking. When he walked into a room he lit it up with his smile! Always kept us laughing until that demon took him from us! It’s just heart wrenching living without him everyday 😢😢😢😢😢

Elias was funny, sweet, caring and so much more. He was on the autistic spectrum and used weed to self-medicate. Sadly, he met some people who saw someone vulnerable and the one time that he tried a hard drug, it killed him.

Our hearts are broken forever....

My brother was an amazing man after his addiction and prison time. He got out of prison. And still drank tho. He took care of his family and kids very well tho. He loved to make people smile and cared deeply about his loved ones. He was killed by a driver who was drinking.

My Precious daughter Kristina was such a happy young girl. She is my youngest daughter of two. She was loved by many.
She would walk into a room and brighten up the room with her Beautiful smile and her great sense of humor.. She battled addiction for 4 years. She had her ups and downs. Just when we thought she was dong her best, we got the horrible call. She had an accidental overdose.. she never woke up from it. I never got to say Good bye.. She left behind two beautiful boys 11 and 6, whom now live with me.. I miss my Daughter so much. Our lives changed forever on Jun 28 2017!

Tried so hard to please his family, but addiction took our Casey.

Josh always wanted to be understood and accepted. He was loving and caring and would give his shirt off his back to another. He had addiction issues as a teen, and this was compounded when his cousin committed suicide in the next room when Josh went to visit. Things went from bad to worse. He left for two years and got clean, and a job! But he was living out of his car because he didn’t make enough for rent. He came back home and I begged him not to stay in our little town because I was afraid he would start using again. He did. He got a girlfriend that was on Meth-and he started meth and heroin. After a year he got into trouble with the police. I took him to a detox center for Methadone but he had to go everyday - the clinic was an hour drive each way. He did this for a month. But he didn’t want to keep up with the driving so he stopped. He kept telling me he wanted to get his life back- that he felt stuck and he wanted to get better. He ODed on Valentine’s Day 2019. I was able to do CPR until the ambulance came. He was intubated and was transported to a bigger hospital. After a 5 day stay he couldn’t handle being there any longer and checked himself out. We talked again about him getting into a program and he didn’t want to drive the hour... or he said he couldn’t because his girlfriend wouldn’t have anyone to take care of her. He started buying methadone off the street and trading things for it. August 1st was the last time I saw my son alive. He met me at a thrift shop- he had asthma very badly, and he promised to go home to use his nebulizer. We had a good conversation that day, and the evening before- he asked me if I could see that he was more clear headed and we could have real conversations. He apologized for so many things- told me he loved me and that he was going to turn his life around-he messaged me at 7:20 that evening. I had tried calling and messaging him back but he had not responded, which was common. I got a call a little after midnight from his girlfriend's ex-boyfriend's aunt, telling me that Josh had been found dead on the floor by his girlfriend. I drove a mile to the house, and yes, he was. I called 911, but there was no saving him this time. His drugs were laid out on the bed. It took over three months for the coroner report. Heroin and methamphetamine intoxication-accidental. I was very involved in my sons life. Sometimes as parents we are codependent or enable and we do not know how to help our addicted children. A day does not go by that I do not think of my son.

My son had a lot of struggles with drugs in life😢 Anthony was in and out of prison. Anthony was the father of 2 beautiful boys and we all miss him so much💔😢😇🦋

Lover of music, food, adventure, family and friends. Talented musician and loved son, brother, uncle, cousin, nephew and friend. Loved by all who knew him.

My nephew Jesse was a gentle soul he would give the shirt off his back to help anyone in need. Jesse would always kid us about being an Angel because he would never age, even though he was almost 34 he looked like a young teenager. He would tease us about his baby soft hair - he didn’t like anyone touching it. I know that the day he left us God definitely gained a true angel.
Jesse was a true living angel but unfortunately his demons got the best of him. We miss his beautiful smile and his personality. Angels do exist among us because he was one of them.

This is my girlfriend. We just celebrated 20 years together on October 12. She was the love of my life. She had a heart of gold for old senior dogs, we share 10 together. The last dog she got is in the picture. 5 months previous she had lost our 13 year old and she was devastated. He was her baby. She seen this little dog at a nearby shelter and she sent me his picture and told me how he reminded her of her baby that passed. We went over the next day and adopted him. She was so happy. The day she was to take him for a vet check she passed away. I walked in and found her. I didn’t know she was using. She never had, I don’t know when it began. I'm so angry at this addiction that’s taking all of our loved ones away.

My only son Curtis was my pride and joy. He was always so kind and sweet to everyone. I don’t think he had a mean bone in his body until the addiction got a hold of him and he didn’t care who he hurt. He always told me he loved me and that he appreciated me raising him on my own without a father. The night before he passed away he sent me a text and thanked me and told me he loved me. That gives me a little comfort today knowing we were on good terms when he passed away.

My Daddy~
Father of 8 children. 5 sons and 3 daughters. My Daddy recently passed away a few weeks ago. He is now with my Mommy in Heaven and we have Glorious Angels watching over our family. The upcoming Holidays are going to be hard on our family, but we are very thankful for all they did for us while here on Earth. May he and my Mommy have a wonderful Thanksgiving in Heaven. We miss you both everyday, but we know you were tired and wanted to go home and be with God and other family members.
Thank you for all you and Mommy did for our family. 💗
Love you both💞

My sister loved to dress up. She was so beautiful. I miss her smile and laugh.

Mikey was my firstborn son. He was funny, kind, interesting, and smart. He always wanted to learn at least a little about a whole lot of things. He was a friend that would give you the shirt off his back - literally - several friends have shared that he did just that. He was a big brother. He was a grandson and a nephew and a cousin. He was a son that loved his momma with his whole heart. The life he lived was not an easy one. Addiction plagued the last 7 years of his life. The help he was so desperately in need of was never found. He turned 25 just 6 days before we lost him. The last thing I said to him on his birthday was that 25 would be his best year yet. I believed that with my whole heart. Just 7 days later he was found. Gone. No chance to be saved. My baby was alone in his last moments of life. It kills me each and every day to think of that. My beautiful boy was alone. I know his pain is over but I’ll never get over mine. My greatest wish for this world is that no momma has to feel this.

My precious son. One of the most compassionate, loving people I've ever known. His smile could light up a room and that laugh was absolutely contagious! He loved big and he loved hard and if he loved you he made sure you knew. Fly high my baby, your struggle is over now! Until we meet again💜

Mike became addicted to opioids about 8 years ago. I tried in every way possible to get him the help he desperately needed. Unfortunately, he lost the battle on October 4th, 2017. He was the love of my life and I miss him every day. He called me his princess, and he will always be my prince.