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

Billy was a pretty amazing guy. He loved his friends and family very much, was a hard worker, but struggled with addiction to pain pills and benzos for many years before succumbing to his death at the young age of 36. He left behind 4 beautiful children, Kayla, Jack, Brianna, and Faith, who struggle every day with the loss of their father. It's still so hard to believe he is gone, even after 6 years, but our family hopes to help fight the war on addiction and the stigma associated with addiction so that no other children have to deal with the pain these courageous souls have had to face. We love you Billy always and forever. May your soul rest in Heaven forever!

We miss you every single day Bri.

Logan is my cousin. He was just 25 years old this past August. He lost his girlfriend just two weeks before his own death. He tried so hard several times to beat addiction. He had a hard time growing up in school due to severe dyslexia. Despite that he was amazing since birth. He could do so many things others could not. He could fix anything. He could make anything. He would do anything for anyone. He loved kids so much and I was blessed to have him in my sons life for 6 years. It never mattered how he felt that day if he saw my son he dropped everything and played with him until we left. My only regret is not doing that more. His smile was infectious. He was that great person who would call out of the blue just because he missed you and needed to check In. He was so adventurous and talented in so many ways. He could skateboard and dirt bike ride and anything you threw at him. He was the most caring person you’ll ever meet. And no matter what path you choose he made sure he didn’t judge you and was simply just there for you. He loved animals so much. Watching him with his doggy was just pure love. Him being gone has made an impact on so many. He is thought of constantly and missed by so many. I know he’s happy,healthy, and free. I know there will be that day I get to hug him again.

My father would have given anything to not battle addiction. He tried, and tried again. When he told me he was clean, I knew he wanted to be, and we all prayed he would stay that way. But it never did last. Each time was harder. Still, I never gave up on him.
My father lost his battle four years ago. He came to terms that he no longer could take the battle he had to deal with every single day. He took his own life.
He was always loved. Always supported. He wanted it to be different.
Addiction affects young, old, all races, all ethnicities. It’s the hardest battle to fight. But we will continue the fight for him.

Too many to name, and too many pictures to post to show how the horrors of addiction claiming so many! Families and children so broken the same and opioids are to blame. This is beginning of much needed American change.

Don Wan, Eric H. This is going out to you.

My wife Jen was the kindest most loving mother, wife, daughter, and friend. She is my soulmate and the world definitely is a worse place without her presence in it. She struggled with addiction for almost 30 years. She experienced so many horrible things in her life that fed her addiction and self loathing. But those things were not who she truly was... she was and remains the kindest most beautiful and loving human being I have ever known and she inspires me to be a better man every moment of every day. When her daughter asked me what I would miss most about her mom, my answer was simple: everything. I love you Jennifer, I love you yesterday, I love you today, I love you tomorrow, I love you eternally.

Joshua always liked to have fun plans, even as a child he would always want to have something to look forward to.  I used to call him my wild child.  He was an avid basketball player and loved the NY Knicks.  He was also a huge Yankee fan and Giants fan. Josh was in his senior year at college when the demon alcohol and pills took his life. My world has been turned upside down. He was my first born child of four, his brother and sisters miss him tremendously, as does his dad. I miss the love he showed me and his big smile. I miss him every minute of every day! I feel blessed to have had him in my life and pray he continues to send me signs.  We love you and miss you Josh!

FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS

Kace was a much-loved son, daddy, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin and friend. He cannot be defined by the heroin addiction that he despised and struggled to overcome. Many will judge, but those are the ones that don't understand what a powerful demon he was fighting! His family's hope is that his strong spirit and strength will be transferred to the recipients of his life-saving organs!

Thomas was very athletic and loved skateboarding, baseball and basketball and he loved drawing. He was a wonderful child. He had good grades. Then 10th grade came and everything started going downhill. He stopped going to school and this started his addictions. Then we battled the addiction through many rehabs. I suffered with him through the years and all the trouble that came with the demons of addiction. He was 17 months clean as of October 2017. He went out and made a bad decision and now my son is gone. His family loves him and misses him every day. I hope he’s at peace but I am still suffering. Love you, my son
Thomas’ mom forever ❤️😇

My Loving daughter Martine passed away in 2013 from substance use disorder at the age of 26. Her friends called her Teeny because she was a little thing, but she was bigger than life! She was a kind and generous,loving and adventurous young lady that would give the shirt off her back. Anyone that knew her loved her. She love music and she loved to help people. She went as far as Rwanda to volunteer to help people struggling with AIDs.

Martine always wanted to help people, and she loved life so I believe even in her death she’s helping making a difference. We will no longer hide the disease she had, we will talk about it we will share the devastating struggles. We will put a face to the beautiful people that struggle from this disease. We need more help, we need more answers, and different treatments ! I believe the way we get that is by talking about it and not hiding it. So in Martine’s name we speak about the addiction.

To the mom I will never have,

May 5, 2018 - the day you lost your battle with opiates. I knew this day would come, but it is still harder than I imagined it. I wish this was just a bad dream, but it isn't. I wish this wasn't the ending of your story.

I wish you had never taken that first drink. I wish you had never taken that first pain pill. I wish you didn't let your addictions get the best of you. I wish you had reached out. I wish you knew that suicide wasn't the answer. You battled depression and addictions for so long, and for that I am so, so sorry. I wish your story was different.

Thank you for teaching me the importance of hard work. Thank you for instilling in me the love of animals. Thank you for teaching me to always take time to laugh. Thank you for teaching me the importance of life and clinging to the things that matter most. Most importantly, thank you for showing me that our greatest need in life is Jesus, and I hope you really are with Him in heaven.

I'm glad I knew you before you weren't you. May you rest in peace. I love you.

Ryan Matthew Potratz died unexpectedly in the early hours of the morning on December 4, 2017.

Ryan Potratz was born January 6th, 1992 in Burlington, IA

Ryans passion during his life involved anything with graphic design and photography. Ryan was often found doodling, drawing, painting, and listening to music. He loved taking pictures of the sky no matter the weather. He spent his spare time playing video games like World of Warcraft and Runescape.

Ryan was a kind soul who helped anyone in need. He cherished his close friends, family, and loved ones, and especially his dog, Max. His free spirit will always be fondly remembered by those who knew him.

We refer to him as our shooting star, his spirit burned so brightly but was gone so fast.

Our prayer for Ryan:
I weep, but not for me. I weep for all the tomorrow’s that you will never see. It’s not my loss that makes me sad. It’s thinking what you never had.

Miss you everyday Ryan. Love Mom, Dad, Sis and Max.

Rachel had a soul full of humor, love and talent. She had a voice of the most passionate singer and taught herself to play piano. She wrote her own songs. She sang and played all the time. She drew pictures that amazed me and kept journals that I still have. These journals encompass her life, her fears and her addiction. She was also a very sensitive person. Rachel had sensitivities to loud sounds, bright lights, smells, and food. As young as 7 years old her teacher told me she felt Rachel should be taking a medication to help her focus in school. I delayed that outcome as long as I could. As she became older Rachel developed extreme anxieties about school. She went to psychologists who put her on anxiety pills. I feel Rachel was groomed to believe the answer was in a pill. She began to take other pills like "oxy" and "Molly". Then she was using heroin which she overdosed on and died. I talk with her often and feel her close. She lives everyday within my heart... I love you Rachi Bear

Always loved going to the Dodgers games, the bars. He was one of my best friends he was like a brother to me always making me laugh always been a great time with HIM he was always everywhere with me

Nick struggled for 9 years with his addiction. There were periods were he was sober and not using. He had a total of 5 overdose with the 5 being the fatal one that took his life. At that time he had 9 months in with not using. He had start a new job and they want to promote him after only 3 weeks. He had order seeds for his garden and was excited about what his was going to plant. Thing I miss most is him telling me he loves me when he left the house. Our house is so much quieter without him. Love you Nick, the dyed and barefoot.

My mom struggled with addiction for a big part of her life. She didn't have the best childhood which led to a lot of the issues she had in adulthood. In 1999 she got hooked on crystal meth for a few years. After that it changed who she was. When my mama was on that horrible drug she was a person I didn't know. Mind you I was thirteen at the time. She would be the meanest person in the world then the next minute she was the most kind loving woman. It took her a while to get off the drugs. But when she did she just traded one addiction for another one which was pills. And that addiction never ended. In January of 2017 her boyfriend died of a blood clot to the heart. And that set off the events leading to her death. They were together for about 6 years. He was good to her but sadly like many others in my mama life turn the other cheek to what she was doing. Halfway through that year her dad passed away which whom she was estranged from. Coincidentally he left her approximately 12 grand. She got the money 3 weeks before her death. That afforded her to get more and more of her pills and alcohol. And there was no shortage of so-called friends at her side. I noticed a dramatic change in her. It was like she could no longer hide the fact of her addiction to opioids. Even tho she still denied it. The day she died she called me that afternoon. I could tell in her voice she was on something and I was in a rush to go to work and I kinda blew her off. I got off work that night and I watched a bit of tv and was getting ready for bed when I heard a knock at the door. It was do surreal to hear my uncle say the words your mama is gone. He drove me to her house where she still lay face down on her couch cuddled to a pillow. Finally, her mind was at rest. Pills finally took my mama. And I pray her story will help anyone out there struggling with addiction.

The word heroin gives me the chills. The word heroin reminds me of the pain I feel for the sister I lost due to this horrible epidemic. My sister was only 35 years old when she lost her life. She was a mother of 6 and loved her kids so much. She was the middle child and was so ditsy. She was what I would call the biggest hypochondriac. My sister loved EVERYONE and everyone loved her. Jasmine battled so long with her demons. She was so brave and went through so much hell during her time on this earth. Addiction sucks. I miss her. What I wouldn't give to see her one more time. 💔

Ali Brown lived a life full of laughter, adventure, and bravery. Her laugh was infectious and to this day as I sit here I can hear that laugh so vividly in my mind. She never stopped searching for adventure, whether that was a nightly cruise around the city, a trip to Six Flags, or the latest gossip it was all exciting to her. She was brave in every situation she was thrown into even when she didn't believe she had anything left inside of her. When she was a senior in high school she became pregnant with her son and through every distraction and every doubt she had in her mind she used all of her bravery to walk across the stage, 8 months pregnant, and receive her diploma with her family cheering her on every step of the way. In that moment she was her own hero and she was her child's hero. When the drug use began it was apparent that she had let her bravery slip and decided that drugs would take its place. She was lost and depressed BUT in that time of turmoil in her life drugs never defined Ali Brown. Drugs were never something that dimmed her shine and she definitely didn't allow anything to get in the way of her passion for life. Through nursing school, raising a curly headed crazy little boy, various job opportunities, and the inevitable hardships throughout she always fought. I think it is important to understand that although drugs were a part of her life, they weren't apart of her make-up. She made a life for herself and her son and she continued to do so until she couldn't any more. We love you so much Ali Renee!

Cassidy was beautiful, funny, sweet, and most of all, kind. Sometimes to a fault. She was the essence of the saying, "give you the shirt off her back," even when she had no other. She loved animals. She loved chocolate. She loved tiramisu and The Walking Dead TV show. She loved the Twilight series. She loved doing hair and being a hair-dresser. She loved make-up - and helping people use make-up. She was really good at it. She loved the beach when it was a hot summer day. Most of all, more than anything else, she loved her children. And in spite of the times she really could not be a mom to her children—she loved them with all her heart. And, she made them perfect. She loved holidays! She loved making them special for her kids. She would shop and prepare and create surprises that brought joy to her children’s faces. She made them feel special. Her heart and her kindness will forever live on in those kids.