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

Peter started with marijuana in early HS years, expanded to alcohol and Xanax in college. Then added cocaine into the mix while having periods of time where his use of marijuana and Xanax would be minimal. However, his “self-medicating” peaks and valleys that were few in his early teens were growing in intensity and frequency during his college years. What Peter really needed was the best mix of professional aid/treatment along with the informed and proper support and help of his entire family, relative, friend, and university/community network. He needed treatment, but thought he had control, knowledge, experience, and the willpower/strength that would allow him to be a recreational user through his college years while continuing to be successful. He was a loyal, friendly, caring, passionate, intelligent boy becoming a man that had hopes, dreams, desires that simply could not be fulfilled while under the influences and effects of drugs. Together, let’s get better informed, educated, and active in order to better prevent and/or help others like him.

The Fox family is currently focusing its fundraising with “Your Choice” based out of Hartland, Wisconsin. However, we are just now being exposed to Shatterproof and would like to learn more about what seems to be a very well organized and run program on many fronts. Sincerely, Tim Fox

Kim and I were great friends and sisters. She would make me laugh and was an incredible person when she wasn’t using. We always knew when she was using because we wouldn’t hear from her. We had taken her to many rehabs, and she had gone to many rehabs even on her own. In the end, she was sober for eight months and then met someone in rehab and eventually couldn’t resist the demons. I will miss and do miss her terribly.... I know that she is up there with my mother who passed away five years ago from emphysema. Kim was never quite the same afterward. Please pray for her son and daughter. Thank you for listening.

When Sam was born, my first thought was that he radiated goodness. His wide eyes seemed to convey patience and reserve judgment of his new situation until the doctors and nurses had a chance to do their thing. As a little boy, he was curious and unhurried, giving each new experience due time for consideration and wonder. He paid particular attention to the details of animals, nature, books \, and music, developing an impressive repository of knowledge and songs, and later an interest in rock climbing and a knack for playing the guitar. He loved social activity, eagerly anticipating each opportunity to gather with friends and family.
The school years introduced some difficulty as Sam experienced some bullying as he struggled to fit in with and understand the rough and tumble world of the playground. The fact that his military family moved frequently compounded the problem. Sam courageously kept looking for connection and found good friendship along the way, but the years of struggle affected him. He developed an affinity for marijuana in high school which led to other drugs, including painkiller pills and eventually, heroin.
We struggled to find appropriate and effective treatment, but the addiction held him tightly hostage. He went down the road of an addict's existence with all its associated troubles. One night after picking him up in a dark corner of the city, he expressed his despair in believing that he would never be free of his cravings. Another time, from a stretcher on the way to an ambulance after an overdose, he looked at me, shook his head and said, "I'm sorry, mom. I'm sorry.'
Because addiction had such a hold, and treatment hadn't worked so far, I took him on a wilderness trip in an effort to give him space to start anew. We hiked 93 miles of the John Muir Trail together. Along the way, I stopped leading him, and he began leading me. He reached Donahue Pass first, and I could hear the joy in his voice as he cried out in celebration. He finished the trip healthier and stronger. He moved in with a friend and started working, which he hadn't been able to do for a year and a half due to his addiction. We both had the naive hope that he could make and execute the decision on his own to follow a sober path. Tragically, I got a call on September 7, 2015 that my beautiful, beloved boy had died of a heroin overdose.

AJ was loved and supported during his struggle with addiction. He had a caring and beautiful wife and together they had an absolutely precious little girl. AJ continued to struggle with sobriety and drug use, lies became bigger and he turned away from the people who loved him the most. His wife, Jenna, could no longer bear the pain and had to end their marriage. His brother and best friend was forced to turn away from him because their relationship became one sided with all of the lies. He didn't get to celebrate his daughter's first birthday. This is what addiction does, it takes everything you love and cherish away from you.
Following is the eulogy his ex-wife, Jenna, gave at AJ's funeral and she says it perfectly.

Today I want to speak on behalf of the boy I met when I was 15 years old and the man I grew to love and share a life with. I want to speak on behalf of the guy who was deemed "most likely to brighten your day" and "talks the most but says the least" in his high school yearbook (which I know isn't a surprise to many) and the guy who was my date to every high school dance. I want us to remember the kind-hearted person he was and the love he shared for soccer, music, Ohio State football, orange sherbet ice cream with nerds, his shoe collection and most importantly, BREAD. (SMILE)
I don't think I'm alone in saying AJ's smile and laugh could light up a room which makes sense because he loved to be the center of attention! He always knew the right thing to say to comfort someone and was willing to help, even though he was struggling himself. He had the best sense of humor, sometimes even laughing to himself at his own endless stream of jokes. AJ was present during some of the best and worst times of my life and I will always treasure those moments we had together. I'm thankful for the many years of happiness we shared.
More recently, AJ had rekindled his relationship with God and it was heartwarming to watch it grow as we attended church together. Nothing separates us from God's love, not our addictions and not our sins. AJ gave me the greatest gift a person can give and that is the gift of life, for that I am eternally grateful. My heart breaks for our daughter, Nora, who will never get the opportunity of getting to know her father. I hope she inherits his generosity, his kindness and his genuine love and caring for others. I will make sure she knows he loved her, and share all of our memories with her someday as I encourage all of you to do as well. She is the best part of him that he left behind for us to cherish. We will celebrate his life and carry him deeply in our hearts always and forever. I love you AJ.

Artie was born when I was 18 years old, and I always felt that God knew I was lonely so he gave me someone who was mine alone. He was smart and funny and beautiful, truly an old soul from the beginning of his life. Artie was one of those people who always took care of those less fortunate than himself, and he was quick to see social injustices--and attempt to rectify those wrongs. He was a self taught guitarist, and an avid comic book collector. He was always quick to debate any subject that he deemed worthy of debate. He loved the Dallas Cowboys and Dale Earnhart Jr. He considered himself a liberal, tree hugging hillbilly. He became addicted to opioids after being diagnosed with fibromyalgia at the age of 22, and fought every day of his young life to try to get clean. He passed away unexpectedly, after being sober for six months. He is missed by his brothers and sisters and me every single day.

He loved his family, friends, and music!! He loved unconditionally with all of his heart. All he ever wanted to do was entertain and make people smile, so maybe he could smile for a while!! He had the most beautiful smile and an infectious laugh. He was in a band called The God Particle, who had just released their first single a few months before. He always had to be doing something, he would get bored easily. A lover of movies, some of his favorites were Coen Brothers and Kevin Smith movies. His absolute favorite movies were the Star Wars movies. Favorite bands Deftones, Alice in Chains, Tom Waits, Michael Jackson, and Tool, with his #1 of all time...Limp Bizkit! He had a love for cooking and was always inventing some new recipe in the kitchen that took no less than every dish in the house to make. If he couldn't be a musician, he wanted to be a chef. He never met a stranger, he talked to and befriended everyone. He left behind three very young children who miss him! They won't remember him enough to have many memories. We talk about 'daddy' every day so they will always have memories of the man that loved them so much.

Kenny was a bright young man who had a passion for cooking, gaming, and spending time on the West Coast. He easily met friends wherever he went. His positivity, sarcastic humor, and friendliness made him a positive contribution wherever he went. He will be missed by many, but remembered fondly by all.

I miss Patrick’s hugs and him saying “ I love you, Mom”. We were an affectionate family. He hugged easily and smiled. His last words to me was “I love you, Mom.” Patrick loved the sun, water, and beach. We spent a great deal of time in Naples, Florida. When Patrick was a little boy; he and his father, Jim Cagey, would spend the evenings play wrestling. I loved to listen to their laughter, and many times in my mind I return to those wonderful days and try to find a reason, an answer to how such a loved and happy boy could die at 25 from a heroin overdose. I don’t believe I will ever come to a satisfactory answer. I can look back and see how inadequate the treatment facility was and how unprepared I was to help Patrick. I am a nurse practitioner in addiction. I have worked in this area most of my adult career and I was unprepared to help my own son.

Michael's battle with addiction began when he was a teen. Outwardly, it was hard to see that he was fighting but if you knew his heart, you knew his pain.
He is so loved. I miss his laughter. I miss the way he ate and the way he asked me to make him a cup of coffee. "It tastes better if you make it", he'd say.
Everything tasted better to me when he was in the world. Not just the flavors of things but the way I could taste hope. The way I could sense the flavor of the prayers I'd pray for him to recover and to find his way.
There aren't enough words to express the part of me that has been empty since the minute he left this world. No one thing will ever fill his place.
"I love you forever, I'll like you for always. As long as I'm living, my baby you'll be."

Jon graduated from Williston Northampton High School in Easthampton, Massachusetts. In addition to excelling academically at Williston, Jon became New England Champion in the discus event, shattering a 26-year-old school record and leading to a national ranking as a high school athlete. He was recruited by numerous Division I universities as a result of his proficiency in Track and Field. Jon chose to attend the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB), where he enjoyed being a student-athlete, building lifelong friendships, and doing well in school. He graduated in 2013 with a B.A. in Human and Organizational Development and Sports Management.

After graduation, Jon earned the two top national certifications in Personal Training and worked to develop his craft and client list at several Bay Area fitness centers. He then moved to Austin, Texas in 2015 and worked as a sales professional for technology and retail companies.

When describing Jon, his many friends and relatives always emphasize his big heart. His smile lit up a room and his charisma and genuine warmth were magnets for building trust with others. Despite his 6’3” athletic frame, Jon was a gentle soul. He made friends easily and was deeply committed to helping others. Animals flocked to him as they knew intuitively that he was their friend.

Jon loved to work out, setting and achieving many personal fitness goals. Even as a child, he was disciplined and persistent until he achieved the goals he set. For instance, he taught himself how to play the guitar to an advanced level, juggle five balls at once, and master leading-edge nutrition and athletic training. Jon also enjoyed writing and performing music and lyrics. Even though he knew his singing voice was not great, he had no qualms belting out his original songs for the pure joy of it, his love for music and life radiating throughout his performances.

We miss Jon every single second of every day… being enveloped in his big bear hugs, laughing with him, being delighted by a thoughtful note or message. This principle-centered, kind young man will also be missed by his many friends and relatives. Rest in Heaven, Jonathan.

There is so much to say and talk about, how we tried to help you so much, how you struggled to live a normal life like so many of us. How since the accident you kept that struggle and tried all you could to overcome. How you searched and found peace in your faith only to have the addition take over. How you loved your daughter and your Mom. How we wish you were here and how do we help others to overcome.

Christine was energetic, dynamic, and had a magnetism that drew people to her. She was positive in spite of her very hidden troubles. She loved making people laugh. She was beautiful and kind but she was troubled by some kind of internal "demon." She was a great skier; she was artistic and smart. She loved her family, especially her younger sister. She also had trouble staying focused as she became a young adult. She enjoyed nothing more than making people laugh. She also enjoyed the high that came with risk taking and that later meant using drugs and entering bad relationships. She became addicted to opioids and hid her addiction very well for a while. After several attempts at detoxing, she became sober, for less than a year. It was looking positive. She looked like herself again. Her smile was back, her glow was back. She struggled and really wanted to make it but we eventually lost her to a fentanyl overdose. The day before she died, she spent the day with her son, had dinner with her family, gave her son a bath, told him a story, put him to bed and then spent some time with her younger sister before going to bed. I had kissed her earlier, told her I was proud of her for taking on the struggles. Still, I had an instinctive fear that she was using. I asked her if she was and whether she was still going to her meetings. She said she was, and not to worry. Nevertheless, I did. Early the next morning I went for a run with friends and was just headed into the driveway when I was met by my younger daughter Emily and my grandson, walking quickly down the driveway. They were headed to a neighbor's house but it was obvious that something was wrong. While my grandson was bouncing and smiling, Emily's face was pale and stoic. My grandson had no idea what happened and my daughter was making sure it stayed that way. As she passed me in the driveway, though, my daughter said quietly "You need to get in the house now. Mom; it's Christine." I ran to the house and my husband told me she was already gone. He found her body on the bedroom floor. She was already cold. She'd overdosed. Christine lost the battle. Sixteen months later, we understand the grieving will change but never go away. Some days it's worse than others; some days it's just a huge empty hole in our hearts. I miss her voice but I still clearly hear it. I wish for her to come visit in a dream. I still see her smile so clearly and I thank God for our grandson, who has so much of her within him.

My son Chris Woodford passed away Monday August 21, 2017. He battled a terrible disease called addiction for 10 years. He fought so hard to stay sober, getting help multiple times for his addiction. But the addiction took over.
Chris had an amazing heart. Always trying to see the good in people. He could instantly make a friend because of his great personality. People gravitated to him because behind that stunning smile was a wonderful person inside. Chris was an amazing father to his daughter. He loved her so very much. Chris fought to be the best Father, Son, Brother, and Grandson he could be. He loved his family unconditionally and will be forever in our hearts. He will be missed!! He is now with Jesus resting in peace!! I love you my Son! ❤️

Steven was a troubled man. He struggled with alcoholism for almost 20 years. He will be missed not for the person he was when he was drinking, but for the great man that all of his family and friends knew him to be when he was sober. I'm writing this (Steven's 18 year old daughter) reflecting upon a similar death, the death of my mother back in 2010. She lost her battle with an opiate addiction but she is missed so greatly every single day. Addiction of any kind can destroy a family, and my family is the proof of that. The stigma surrounding addiction is one that needs to come to an end so that those suffering from addiction can get the help they need. In some cases, they may have already been offered all of the help in the world, like my father, but to understand that this is a disease does bring some comfort when we can realize that the person may have wanted to recover, but simply could not beat it. My father was not only an alcoholic; he was a father, a brother, an architect, a cat dad, avid Star Wars lover, and sarcastic asshole in the most lovable way.

Unfortunately, I am now mourning him for a second time. I mourned him once when he was lost to the addiction, and I mourn him now.

Shane loved Georgia Bulldogs, he loved to fish, his heart was his dog, Bentley. He worked in construction and was complimented on any work he ever did for anyone. Shane struggled with drugs starting at 15-16 years old. He stayed away for many years but when life's struggles came along, he turned back as his way of coping. He lost his fight and I lost my son! He is on my mind and in my heart constantly. I miss him so much!

Zack was just 13-years-old when he was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. After suffering for years, his physicians prescribed OxyContin to help him cope with the excruciating pain. After several years, Zack turned to street drugs. In 2016, Zack enrolled in, and successfully completed, a year long drug and substance abuse program. He was a model patient, helping to coach and lead other patients in the program. Just 10 days after completion, Zack ultimately succumbed to his addiction and tragically overdosed at home.

She had migraines and her doctor gave her Dilaudid, 100 pills, three prescriptions, the two times she went to see him in the last nine months. He also gave her other narcotics too. Her autopsy indicated she had been on such a high dose for so long that was what killed her. They were only able to use the cornea as all other organs were damaged. She will be sorely missed by many! Ilu

Adam had an authentic gift for inspiring others to explore, travel, and pursue their dreams. He was loved by many people, friends old and new, around the world. Adam was the beloved son of Karen Salhaney Smizer and her husband Karl of Weymouth, and Steven Salhaney and his wife Karen McDonough of Hingham. Dear brother of Sarah Duguay and her husband James, and Peter Salhaney, all of Weymouth. Beloved grandson of Louise Tucciarone of Braintree. Loving uncle of Sophie Duguay. Dear stepbrother of Nicole and Ryan McDonough, and Perry Smizer.

One of the things I take most heart from is the amount and variety of life Angus was exposed to in his time with us, a world traveler by the time he reached a double digit age, he knew most of the international terminals by heart and, in his inimitable fashion, could run rings around the unaccompanied minor staff meant to shepherd him between flights, which I know also drove his brother insane but it was like trying to tame the wind when he was younger.

He lived in multiple countries, visited even more and was exposed to opportunities and work experiences that are not readily available.

All in all, a rich life

But what we should all be most proud of is that, despite the difficulties of his disease, he was just a good person, inherently kind, a gentle giant, a lover of life.