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

Mollie when sober was brilliant, industrious, fearless, and quick-witted. She was a local singing and acting star in middle school, then started to slide into a deep, dark hole in high school, with mental health issues self-medicated by alcohol misuse. This kept her from success at ASU, and it drove her back to Wisconsin, where she slid into her own personal maelstrom. Sober, Mollie was a stunning beauty with a quick wit and the energy to do the work of three people. But when using, first alcohol and then, tragically, heroin in 2012,  Mollie began a decade-long descent into her own personal hell. Madison, WI, police saved her in 2014 and again in 2017, giving her more chances to overcome. Mollie was loved, and she knew it, but she always felt the need to battle and beat her addiction without others’ help, as if taking help would further stigmatize her. In late August 2018, we had one last visit with her in Maine, a place she managed to avoid heroin for long stretches. But the drug kept telling her it would help her when no one else would. She had just started on antidepressants and real therapy, and was moving towards recovery for the first time in her adult life. But she leaned on her rescue pit, Jocko, a little too much and her support system too little. In the end, the power of the stigma and the lack of intelligent treatment held her back. She died cold and alone, with her faithful Jocko at her side for 36 hours before she was found. It shocked us when we thought we could not be shocked, because like so many other addicts, she seemed to be maturing and turning an important corner. We have a hole in our family’s heart. It is a big one. 

Now we laid you down to sleep...
We pray the Lord your soul to keep...
You died before you could awake ....
We know your soul the Lord did take....
Love
Always and Forever 💔

Miss Seth everyday! He was a great person, father, son, and grandson! We miss his hugs and kisses and their is an empty chair at the table everyday! Seth was a good kid. He was very loved by daughter, parents, grandparents, and other family members! He loved his family also!

Greg was the baby of the family but taller than everyone else. He was a gentle giant with a heart for nature. He was intelligent and kind, pursuing his passion to preserve nature by enrolling in law school. Zuri, his faithful dog was his companion throughout his addiction and his time at Back to Basics, where he dedicated himself to recovery and was an inspiration for others struggling with addiction. Zuri, a piece of Greg’s heart, remains at Back to Basics giving comfort and encouragement to others trying to heal from addiction. He was thoughtful about his impact and the imprint he left on this earth and traveled to work with animals and the less fortunate in other corners of the world. He loved his family and was a loyal friend. He was one of the most naturally funny people making everyone laugh until they cried without effort. I am proud of the person that he fought to be and his family will never stop missing or loving the person that he was. A beautiful person.

Our Hayden was handsome, funny, smart, and one of the hardest working people you could meet. He suffered addiction on and off over the past six years. He had much sober time but seemed to always relapse when the weather got cold and the days got short. He was really trying hard to stay sober. Unfortunately, he tried it one more time and it was his last. Worst day of our lives. We miss him terribly every day and always will. Requiescat in Pace Hayden James Moreau.

Caine reached out about a year and a half ago asking for help with heroin. He became sober and was doing well in local counseling and recovery groups. He relapsed on June 20, 2018 and died. The drug was laced with fentanyl. He was 24. I miss my son, his laughter, his gentle spirit, his intelligent mind, his way with others, and I miss our long talks about life. I miss family time spent skiing, camping, rock climbing, and rafting. We had many adventures together. Be the change you want to see in the world- Gandhi. A quote that Caine would like for others to fulfill.

Tyler, a new father, you are missed beyond words. I love and miss you so much. We miss your sense of humor, laugh, and creative mind. I wish so much you could watch your son grow. I hope you are looking down from heaven smiling. Forever loved❤️

Our son Stephen John struggled with an addiction to opioids. We were not aware of his addiction until the last two years of his life. Stephen John tried hard to break away from his addiction and was doing great until he went back to California where he had a relapse. This happened in November 2015. Our son was working at a very good company and doing well until this trip happened. On February 4th, he was found deceased in a hotel room in our hometown. He was not found until the next day. Our hearts are shattered over his loss. We know that we will see him again one day. Our God is our strength and our salvation, and we have found strength and comfort in Him and all our family and friends who have supported us every step of the way. We love our son and will never stop loving him as long as we live.

Christopher was a singer, songwriter, graphic artist, and a complicated person. He loved family and traditions. He was easily upset and suffered from depression and anxiety. He was a great help to many friends who struggled with the same things but had difficulty controlling his own. He didn't realize what an amazing person he was. He was an adorable little boy who sang and acted in community theatre shows and did well in school. The third of three boys, he was my baby!
As an adult, Chris wanted to make an impact in the music world. He was in several bands as the lead singer songwriter and enjoyed moderate success. He taught himself to play guitar, harmonica, piano, and immersed himself in music. It was his passion. He was also a successful graphic artist who had a great gift for design. His addiction to heroin made his success fleeting. He struggled long and hard with it. Whenever he would slip back he would immediately seek help but he would always slip back. He hated that and sometimes hated himself for it and it made him difficult to understand.
He had a wicked sense of humor, dry and sometime cynical but whatever he said was accompanied by a sly smile that made you laugh. He had beautiful blue eyes and his last song he wrote was "Blue Eyed Sun" with a play on the words sun and son.
He was loving and sometimes too loving which made him hurt when others didn't love him back in the same way. He gave the most creative well thought out gifts to people. He saved and chronicled a lot of the family memories even secretly recording the entire family singing Christmas songs one year and then giving them out as Christmas gifts the next. I miss him more than I can possibly say.

Our son was a beautiful person, inside and out. He was sensitive and loving and never wanted us to know he struggled with addiction. Once we found out, he received treatment and, naively and desperately, we believed all was going to be okay. There was so much we didn't know about this disease. He was so strong and determined in everything else he did that we just assumed his desire to be rid of his addiction would be all it would take for him to succeed. How I wish I could go back and do everything over. How I wish I had known that he was struggling the last time I saw him. We miss him every single moment of every single day.

My son was 36 when he took his life. He had struggled in the past with addiction but he was sober. Clint was an active, loving little boy. He was kind and helpful to all. He loved his boys fiercely. He loved me, Mom. I can still hear him saying Hey Mom. Losing him has completely destroyed me. Fly high Clint. You are deeply missed.

Jordan is the third of three brothers. Even in the womb, Jordan was bursting with energy. When I was pregnant and taught VBS at church, the other teachers fought to sit next to me in worship to feel him kicking and dancing in my belly. Keeping Jordan safe was a huge concern. He seemed to have no fears and lived life to the fullest. He never met a stranger and loved everyone he met. He was kind and compassionate as a child, always concerned about others’ feelings. I did not know that Jordan started experimenting with marijuana at a young age. After that, it seemed he was fearless when it came to using. We tried everything we could think of to intervene and help him. Nothing we tried worked. Despite his battle with addiction, God blesses us with many good times and many memories with Jordan. Jordan knew God and he knew Jesus as his Savior. He knew what God wanted him to do, he just did not think he had the power to do so. Jordan’s Dad and I want to honor Jordan’s life by doing what we can to help those struggling like he did. In whatever capacity God calls us to accomplish that. When we see someone with an addiction, we see our precious son. Jordan was precious, his life had meaning and he will be missed every moment that we continue to live.

He was the light of so many lives. He was always making everyone laugh, no matter your mood. He always knew how to make you feel better. No day is easy without him, but everyday we do it. #LongLivePalmer #beataddiction & #fightyourfight

Anthony was a happy go lucky child. He was very smart, he was in the advanced classes starting in 3rd grade. In middle school he started going to “Pharm parties.” I knew something was wrong for years. Finally his senior year (7 years ago 12/16/11) I started to force the issue of help. At the time, I thought his problem was alcohol (it was pills). He went in for his first inpatient visit. He came out and moved away for 10 months. He moved home in February of 2013. In this time, he starts using heroin. We are told a friends uncle gave five kids heroin in pill form without telling them what it is. We don’t find out for 2 more years (2/15) even though all of the signs are there. He finally tells his cousin he wants to die and why. His cousin takes him to the college campus clinic and they call me and we and go get him. We still don’t know what is going on. He is so depressed and crying and wanting me to hold him on the ride home. My heart was breaking and I was so scared. We take him to the hospital and they admit him. He still didn’t tell us. My nephew told me on the phone a few days later. Anthony was so embarrassed he couldn’t tell us. I couldn’t believe it either. How could one of my perfect children be addicted to heroin?

Anyway, we were fighting for Anthony's life at this point. He was already injecting. We sent him to many rehabs. He was out in Southern California. Every time he relapsed he was living on the streets. We had to go out and look for him when one of his best friends OD’d back home. I cried and begged him to stop using. I told him it was going to take him from me, I felt it in my heart. He promised me it wouldn’t. I cried and told him that wasn’t a promise he could keep. At the end we tried to keep him closer to home. I was terrified of something happening to him and us never finding him.

He passed away all alone in his car from a fentanyl overdose. We got the call within two hours.

He was so special to our family. He is still so loved and missed by many. I will never be the same person I was a few years ago.

They were both brothers. Christopher pictured in the photo wearing the hat was born October 7, 1982 and died Nov 28, 2018. They were both handsome, both had a heart of gold. Growing up they loved sports, and both were involved in baseball, soccer, and basketball. Both excelled in baseball as pitchers and were known around the field as the Bisbee brothers. Loved watching sports on TV, especially the patriots. They were both very loved and they are missed greatly.