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

My son struggled with addiction for 4 years. His twin brother, unfortunately, is presently fighting the same addiction. We, as a family, have suffered a huge loss. Deni was a pure and good soul. Even though his addiction consumed him, he never stopped fighting his demons. People say addiction changes, but Deni stayed himself. He was loved and appreciated, respected and cherished. His funeral truly tells who he was, what he stood for... There were hundreds of people, all coming to say "the world is not going to be the same without you Deni!"
He left a mark in this world, even though he only lived for 23 short years. We, as a family celebrate his memory, his legacy and unconditional love Deni always had for us... He wouldn't have it any other way!

Matthew was a very kind, caring person. He made friends where ever he went. He was always helping others, especially his students! He loved being a teacher and working with middle school kids. He is missed by so many, he will always be forever in our hearts. 💕

Patrick was an amazing man. His opioid addiction didn't change this. He was lighthearted, funny, and sweet. He loved his daughter. He loved life. He had so much more to live for, but now we live for him. He was a week shy of his 30th birthday and was home a short month from a successful program in a halfway house. I loved Patrick more than anything. He was my person, my best friend, and the love of my life. We miss his laugh and his animated personality. There aren't enough words to describe the loss we have suffered. I could go on and on about him. His daughter and I carry him with us always.

Alex was such an amazing and genuine person. He was extremely passionate, caring, supportive, and loving. He was my other half, my soul mate, my best friend. I always told him the only time I truly felt the feeling of being at home was whenever I was with him. Without him it feels like my house burned to the ground, and there is nothing left. He was such a prankster. He loved doing/saying things he knew would shock people. He loved video games and music, especially rap. He was working on some of his own music before he passed. He was always there for the people he cared about no matter what. Unfortunately, he struggled with so many demons that he just couldn’t shake. He struggled with anxiety, depression, bipolar, and addiction. Losing him has been so hard, but he is no longer struggling everyday and he is finally at peace. While the world lost a spectacular individual, heaven gained one heck of an angel.

I love and miss my Penguin more than anything.

My Kristopher
Kindhearted, funny, extremely knowledgeable, and very humble. He is missed by his family and friends💔 He tried so hard to get and stay sober, and he set timelines and goals that he managed to achieve on his own. After three months sober, we lost him to fentanyl poisoning. The system failed him for so many times, 30 days in and out of treatment, left to sink or swim. The stigma stopped him from reaching out to the people that loved him.
A life gone too soon, please not one more life💔

My dad was compassionate and loyal. He went out of his way to do things to make our days a little easier, like waking up early to make sure we got breakfast, or warming the cars up in the morning before we’d have to leave during the cold Wisconsin winter. He was a good cook and always made sure to bake us our favorite cakes and a special dinner for our birthdays. My love of cooking comes from him.

My dad was smart and funny. He rarely went anywhere without a book in hand, and could quote movies and TV shows of all different genres. My love of The Princess Bride, Scrubs, and many other things I haven’t been able to watch since his passing come from him.

My dad was a hard worker. Many of my childhood memories are of my mom, my dad, and I going out to my grandma’s house, where we would help take care of her old farmhouse and the land around it. Even when he didn’t live with us, he still came by and did housework so that things looked nice for when we got home.

My dad was a myriad of wonderful things that brought joy and happiness to those around him, but he was also an alcoholic. He started drinking at a young age, and never stopped. Through my birth, a divorce because of his alcoholism, a remarriage to the same woman who never wanted to leave in the first place, the birth of his second daughter, and the threat of another divorce. Through all of these periods of great happiness, and the deepest sorrows that stemmed from his drinking, he never could stop.

My dad could not stop drinking even after he was hospitalized and they told him that if he didn’t stop, he would die. It only took three months after his release from the hospital for his body to give up in his sleep. He was exactly one week away from his 45th birthday.

My dad was an old soul, but with all of his wisdom he couldn’t keep the demons that were haunting him at bay. Between his disease and his learned habits, he could not let all of the love that we had for him replace the bottle. I think about him every day and hope that his soul is finally at rest.

My brother struggled most of his life, starting with alcohol at 14 years of age and ending his life with prescription meds. We miss that beautiful smile, but we know that he’s finally at peace.

Christian had a sweet, gentle spirit. He tried many times to get and stay sober, but never found enough peace to maintain his recovery. Christian was 21 when he died and the world lost a beautiful person. I'm still sad.

Matthew was the most loving, outgoing, caring, empathetic person you could meet. He had friends from all over world. He would walk into a room and become the life of the party, befriending everyone that came into his path. He was soulful and loved adventure and travel. He loved taking his guitar everywhere and entertaining a group or just sitting on a beach and playing for his friends. His favorite song was "Wonderwall" by Oasis. He loved studying different cultures and knew how to bring people together. No one ever felt left out. He was all inclusive and it didn't matter who you were or from where you came. He also loved his family and always looked forward to spending time with everyone over the holidays and summers.

Growing up, Matthew was always high energy and never slept. Even as a baby he was always wide awake and needing to be up and out of his bed and held. He loved and needed attention always (not in a bad way) but he just wanted to be loved and he gave love back. When he was in school he was very active and an amazing student. Because of his high energy we had him tested for ADD and a very detailed IQ test that took a few months to complete. They found that he did not have ADD and that he scored in the superior range of IQ for his age, which may be why he just needed to always be challenged. His mind was alway on.

Matthew got addicted to pain killers after a few minor surgeries (tonsils removed, adenoids removed, deviated septum, appendix, hernia). He also had issues after hurting himself wrestling in high school, complained about minor pain in his back and neck. His doctors especially once at ASU easily prescribed different medications to him in large amounts (painkillers and xanex). Once back in school, he continued to get prescribed meds basically for anything he needed. It seems like a few of his fraternity brothers at ASU did this together because a couple have passed within the same time. I think one of the biggest reasons he got hooked was that he felt it helped knock him out (as he said) so he could get some sleep. He used to be up for days if he didn't with his mind on. This is how he started self medicating. As his tolerance grew to the meds so did the amount, which then led to him (trying) using heroin by the time he was a senior. We only found out during his senior year. He was a normal college student. He didn't seem any different from any of the other kids we knew. If anything he was happy, outgoing, fun and smart. There where no signs that said I"M AN ADDICT (or maybe there were and we just didn't know) but once we knew that he was taking prescription meds, we put him directly into a rehab center for a month, then a step down from there into a sober living. We still had no clue he was doing anything more than that, until he was in rehab and he had to come clean during family week. Once home he was fine but struggled over the next few years and ended up back in detox a few times. He really wanted to just be ok and normal like any 24 yr old. After several months, we finally thought he was good. He was sober for some time and he wanted to finish up school and take classes in LA for film. We agreed to this if he continued with an outpatient program with therapy and lived in a sober living house to make us feel comfortable with his being away. Unfortunately, it only took one more mistake after being there for six months. Matthew passed from an accidental overdose on June 12, 2016, 12 days after his 25th birthday. I never read the toxicology report to know if it was tainted with fentanyl or just too much. At the end, it just doesn't matter. Addiction took him from us and the world. He is forever in the hearts of so many people who's lives he's touched and saved. He's missed every moment of everyday and his life will continue in the memories he's left us all with. Love, Mom

I miss you Penguin. I love you.

My beloved son Jeremy died of a heroin overdose that was laced with fentanyl on March 25, 2016 at the young age of 23. His struggle with addiction started in his teens with marijuana. Until he was 20 yrs old, marijuana was usually the only drug he used. After that, he started trying different drugs and got addicted to opioids, which led to heroin. He had been in recovery for three months, going to meetings and counseling, attending church and working. It was so shocking because Jeremy seemed to be turning his life around.
Jeremy grew up in a loving family with three brothers. He played baseball for eight years. He enjoyed a variety of music, loved the group Kiss, and played the drums. He had so many friends and was loved by all who knew him. I miss my son so much and my heart is forever broken. I love you Jeremy! ❤️

April had struggled for more than 15 years. In the past three years her addiction escalated to to highest level possible. Her struggle of mental illness and addiction was always present. Being a nurse and her Mom, I was always trying to fix her and get her help. Somehow she always bounced back. Through the use of outpatient, in patient, expensive out of state programs, and DBT therapy, I always looked for the golden ticket. Her struggles in the last three years led her down the path of no return. Every horrible thing from incarceration to living on the streets happened. We were able to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas with her for the first time in three years in 2018. As she was waiting to get into a recovery home, she stayed with her father, near all of us. April's drug of choice was not heroin but it became it for the first time in 15 years. Her death was an accidental overdose. Her struggles are no longer but I miss her every minute of my life. She is finally at peace at the age of 32 years old. April was the most kind, artistic, giving, and religious soul. We fought so hard over the years. April has family that love and miss her beyond words. April loved making jewelry and painting. She was always making something and giving gifts to everyone. I cherish these...her Mom

David's drug and alcohol use caused him to aspirate in his sleep, which caused a traumatic brain injury. He was in a coma for several weeks with his family around him and in deep despair. It was thought that, if he even lived, he would be in a vegetative state. As time went by, David got stronger but he lost the use of his legs and needed wheelchair assistance. He eventually went back to high school after missing the last half of 2001 and first half of the beginning of the next year and he graduated with excellent grades!

As time went by, he quit his counseling sessions and his drug addiction creeped back in. He Googled pain info to tell the doctor what types of pain he was having so he could get prescriptions. That was the end of David as I knew him. Google searches, rare diseases, more prescriptions, and when he ran out, he went to the streets and got heroine. Over the next few years, David overdosed no less than seven times and each time the nurses and doctors worked to save his life. He even went to rehab for a couple weeks to prove to everyone he could quit.

Then he hit the jackpot! A nice doctor that would just hand him prescriptions to get him off his back and make a little extra cash. And then he overdosed for the last time. That's the day his family also died a little bit inside and a Mother that still cries and can't seem to get back to normal.

Blake was born in New Haven, CT and grew up in Trumbull, CT. From an early age, he delighted his family and friends with his silly humor and beautiful, infectious smile. It was clear, early on, that Blake had incredible musical talent. He mastered the guitar and taught himself to play the piano and use the electrical equipment to mix his musical compositions. He hoped one day to write, record, and perform his songs. Blake loved to travel, visiting Africa, Thailand, and Germany. He had a love for all animals, and they, in turn, were drawn to his gentle demeanor. He also enjoyed swimming, ice hockey, snowboarding, and skateboarding but always returned to his first love — writing and performing music. More than anything, though, Blake will be remembered for his love and compassion for his family and friends.

Those who knew Blake, even just a little, lost a shining light in their lives. Blake had so much goodness and such a capacity to bring happiness and laughter to others. The earth is a dimmer place without him. We are heartbroken, but comforted that our memory of his larger than life personality, beautiful heart, and soulful songs will be treasured forever.

My brother lost his life to his addiction this month four years ago. He was so talented and funny but he could not see past his pain and he tried to mask it with alcohol and drugs. He is so missed and there are so many times I want to pick up the phone and speak to him. He started using very young and it affected him the rest of his life. He battled this disorder all his life. He is loved and missed and not forgotten.

Stacy had a larger than life personality. He truely loved the family he built and suffered scars from the family he was born in to. He loved his children and grandchildren deep yet struggled with his most charished relationships. He was difficult to handle with his no holds barred opinions that at times pushed others away. He yearned for love and acceptance. He suffered a lot of pain--mental, emotional, and physical. Stacy had serious health issues. The seriousness became worse as his addiction became his only recourse, so he thought, to deal with his pain. All the while neglecting his health issues. He struggled most of his life in the thralls of his addiction. His love of his children and grandchildren were not able to distract him from trying to keep his demons away for very long. To not think about or feel his pain, he'd self medicate. As he was deep in the thralls of addiction NO ONE could pull him out of that grasp addiction had on him. Bringing him closer to death every day. Once he realized he wanted to live and how much he was loved, his health was at the point of no return. He became too tired to fight and succumbed to the hold his demons had on him. Addictio n destroyed his body, however his light will be awaiting those he loved on the other side. Just as those loved ones who passed before him were there greeting him when he left his painful physical world. He was loved and will always be missed. R.I.P. see you on the otherside Stace.

Matt was so smart and clever. He had a dry sense of humor and a big heart. He cared about his family and friends, and the NY Mets! He struggled in life, often being very hard on himself, trying to do things right, but everything was an effort. He is now soaring through the air like a bird, gliding, no flapping, no effort. Although we will miss him terribly and our hearts are broken here on earth, we know his earthly struggles are over and he is at peace.

My brother, my King Solomon David Mack. Gone too soon. He has touch many hearts. He was a loving son, brother, Uncle,cousin, and a great friend to everyone. He loved his music. His smile could light up the world. He got his very first job as a kid on a fish truck. Came home smelling of fish everyday but all he cared about was his snacks. Every since he always been working odd jobs to stay busy and was very dedicated to his work. Everywhere he went he never left without his bible. His job here on earth is done.God needed him now to.do a bigger job. He earned his wings🙏 I can't express this enough. His deliverence has left an awesome impact on everyone. He left with God on his side. My baby brother is gone and he left a big impact on this world. Rest up lil bro. I will mourn you till I join you. Love Big Bird aka your Big T

Jt Jordan was a happy, loving, and caring person. My brother lived a great life, but eventually turned to heroin, which changed our lives forever! Struggling in and out of juvenile facilities, in and out of rehab, and the repetition of relapsing. My brother fought for his life everyday. Until April 1st, 2018, while my mom was hiding Easter eggs, my brother was found dead in his room from a heroin overdose. Easter morning we were supposed to spend the day with family on the beach, but instead we all started planning his funeral! Jt was the light of the room, he had a great smile, a great laugh, and an amazing personality. He left behind a supportive and loving family, a beautiful little girl, and plenty of friends! Jt is physically not with us in the world, but he will always be with us in our hearts!! Gone but certainly never forgotten!!! We love and miss you Jt, see you soon!!!