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

Daniel was a very kind generous person that would help anyone in need. Daniel would often hand write bible devotions for himself and for others as his way to battle the Primary Medical Disease called addiction. Daniel lost his battle while trying to find a provider for his 9th successful consecutive Vivitrol injection. He was denied this medication that all physicians can administer without any special training for NO legitimate reason. Even the Montgomery County Ohio Public Health Department Drug and Alcohol service agency could not find a provider. It is easier to get prescription opioids than to get opioid addiction treatment. This is the mission Daniel wants us to resolve. Please consider supporting this effort. Daniels Law Ohio HB 167 & Senate Bill 119

https://youtu.be/kEPsvQx-Qvs

Brandon was born as the only boy to his mother Karla, and has two sisters Nicole and Sara. He always had a reputation for getting along with women very well and joked around with family as saying to everyone that "pimpin' ain't easy" but deep down in his heart, he lived and breathed for his two daughters, Hailey and Aubrey. He was a good man and always worked hard when he was clean and sober. There were so many times that his family remembers, such as having cookouts at Aunt Kelly's house and he would always make sure to crack a few of his famous jokes while eating some of his favorite baked beans. Needless to say everyone that knew him has their own special and fond memories of him, but most of all we all knew that he had a deeper, darker struggle that he was never quite able to completely shake. He would always have long periods of time where he was doing really well and all of his family would be so happy to spend time with him during those times and those were the times that his true colors would really show. He was always so happy and goofing around, but when he would start using again he would become a different version of himself and close himself off to those that he loved as if he was ashamed. He was sent away for a while, got arrested, and got out again. We thought for sure that he was going to make it this time, but then something changed one more time and that was all that it took. Those demons got their hooks in, but the angels had the last say and took him to heaven that day. His birthday was the day that he was pronounced as no longer having brain function and that was the hardest day for a lot of his loved ones. It was a hard and awful day, no one was wanting or expecting that news for someone so young, only 34 years old. He made sure not to leave us with nothing to remember him by. We have all of our amazing memories, and he was an organ donor. His liver and heart went on to save some other people's lives. Not only was he an amazing person in life, but he was that same wonderful person in his passing. We will always remember his bright smile, warm hugs, loud laugh, and his ability to make any situation a memorable one. Rest in heaven Brandon. #Hustle

Jane was a caring and loving sister and friend to many. She struggled with addiction for over 10 years, ultimately giving her life to this battle.

Derek was my first son. He was my pride and joy. I did not have his brother for four years. I was a hippie and took Derek picketing with me. He was very comfortable. He grew up idealistic. and society had disappointed him on many, many levels. A sensitive and creative person who loved to write. Went away to college for both his bachelors and masters degrees. It was during this time he discovered vodka and how it took the edge off socially for him. Years of rehab, losing friends to addiction, sobriety, and could not stop the cravings. Coroner has not determined cause of death yet. He died at home. He had fallen off his bed during the night. I found him that morning. Derek I love and miss you so much.

My beautiful and goofy son! He had a huge heart, was very loving, playful, and his favorite hobby was sports. He played football and wrestled in high school. He was an electrician apprentice and a recent daddy to his beautiful baby girl. Also, he considered his girlfriend's little boy his own. He loved spending time with his babies and loved them with all his heart! He is missed dearly and loved by many.

His struggle began in high school, after being injured playing sports and breaking his elbow. He had four total surgeries due to injuries in high school playing sports (wrestling and football). He became addicted to all the pain killers the doctors prescribed. Unfortunately, he struggled until March 25, 2017!

JOSE WOULDN'T LET ANYTHING GET HIM DOWN HE ALWAY'S KEPT HIS HEAD UP HIGH WITH PRIDE HE HAD MANY FRIEND'S HE WOULD PUT HIS FAMILY FRIST THEN WORRY ABOUT HIM SELF

After Misty passed, so many people (family, friends, and just people she had met through blogs) posted about how much she had changed their lives...how much she meant to them. Here are just a few of the quotes that give my family and I a little comfort knowing that even though she was only here for 39 years, she did great things and was very LOVED!
"Your infectious smile & beautiful eyes will stay with me forever. I'm so glad you don't have to fight anymore. Rest in peace my sweet friend. You will forever hold a piece of my heart"... "You're what kept me going through all my rough times and made me realize that there was always someone out there thinking about me...please know, wherever you are, that I'm thinking of you, and sending my love"... "I don't think I have ever thought of you as a cousin, you have always been my sister and I always will be. I love you Misty Lynn"... "We had so many great times at Hood. All like sisters just learning military life and dealing with deployments together as one group. She will be sorely missed and never forgotten".... "You had one of the most genuine hearts I ever had the pleasure to know, and I will miss seeing it. I will keep you in my mind and heart and I am grateful for the chance to say I was friend's with you."... "We clicked with each other and we would always sit and talk on breaks and lunch. She always talked about her kids and how great they were. We talked about everything else about life as well. Being the same age as her kids, I loved the mother-daughter like talks. I was sad to see her leave to another store but I was always happy for her and all to come. Hate to see a good person go. Misty won't be forgotten" ..."Misty was a special person. Her smile was contagious. She was always helping others and her giving ways inspired me."..."My dear Misty your smile brought so much happiness to everyone. What a bright and full of life young lady. I felt blessed to know you. May your family find comfort and peace"..."Gone too soon but never forgotten. You're a beautiful soul that helped me see the light when I was deep in the dark. I enjoyed getting to know you. Fly high my friend!!" ..."I know your angel wings are going to be busy... but what a beautiful angel you are"..."Misty Lynn, you always wanted us to apply for The Amazing Race and travel the world. Well you are now on your own amazing travels so until we meet again I will miss you and think of you every day" ..."Your angel wings were ready, but my heart was not"... "Misty, we love you to the moon and back"

Garrett Robert Moody, born June 19th 1989, of Point Marion died June 2nd 2017, of an accidental overdose after battling addiction for over half of his life. Outwardly, it looked like Garrett had it all: support, love, intelligence, talent, amazing family, loving girlfriend, working at a job that he loved.

He enjoyed watching the Pittsburgh Penguins, getting together with family and friends, spending time with his girlfriend and their puppy daughter Lola. He was an active member in the NA community and was working the 12 steps with his sponsor. He hoped to help others fighting addiction, to travel, to have a family of his own, and to own a food truck. He loved playing with yo-yos and doing research on new technology. He especially loved hiking and randomly climbing rocks and walls, making everyone around him nervous. He was adventurous with a big sense of humor.

Garrett had a very opinionated personality that showed his individualism and intelligence. He was open-minded, thoughtful, and accepting. He did not judge others; because he knew everyone is fighting their own battles; just like inside he was fighting his battle against addiction and anxiety.

He tried so hard, and fought for so many years. He was in many rehab facilities and even jail. Garrett was a good person, with a horrible disease.

The disease did not let him out of its sight for one minute- he was constantly fighting. He lived in a world of chaos for many years. He had so many brushes with death that we are lucky to have had him this long. At one point, Garrett was clean from drugs and alcohol for three years. It was then that he really began to shine and more people could see the person he truly was, aside from his addiction. He was resilient and loved people unconditionally.

It’s important to not allow addiction to define a person. They are people with a disease. They are someone’s child, sibling, significant other, best friend- they mean something to someone. They also love and care about others, they do not want to hurt their loved ones or commit crimes and more times than not, it’s the shame and guilt of their behavior that keeps the vicious cycle of addiction continuing. They don’t want to leave their loved ones behind, grieving, asking themselves what they could’ve done differently or how they could’ve saved them. Garrett did not want to hurt us.

Garrett losing his life to addiction is not because of his “lack of strength” to “just quit using.” Most recently, Garrett was clean from drugs and alcohol for one year, but the relapse after having so much clean time is often deadly, because tolerance is lost. We thought Garrett was winning the battle and enjoying life again in recovery.

Love alone is not enough to heal addiction. Garrett’s family and friends loved him through it all. If love could’ve saved him, he would still be with us today. And addiction does not discriminate. Addiction does not care how well you were raised, or how intelligent and successful you are.

Garrett was so thankful to have the loving family and friends that supported him every step along the way. He never took anything for granted throughout his recovery. Garrett is not just another statistic of a life claimed by addiction. He fought the demons inside him for so many years, that although he will be missed so dearly and the thought of life without him brings unbearable pain, it is comforting to know he is finally in peace.

Although we are mourning the loss of Garrett’s beautiful life, we hope that bringing light to his struggle with addiction may help others- whether that is seeking treatment for yourself, supporting a loved one struggling, trying to understand addiction and mental illness, or just being more empathetic and compassionate to those suffering from addiction and the people that love them.

We miss everything about David.
We love and miss you David~

Aaron passed away unexpectedly on Friday, January 13, 2017, just 11 days before his 43rd birthday. He was a gentle giant in many ways. He was always good for a hug or a laugh, whichever was needed.

Aaron was a talented tile setter who helped out those who needed it at any time. He worked hard each day even when addiction seemed to be the commander.

His children were the highlight of his life and what he lived for each day. His gentle spirit was comforting to them as small children and his fun loving side appealed to his older children. He is greatly missed.

We miss Collins laugh. His smile. His ability to light up a room when he entered it. He always gave, he fought for the little guy, the underdog! Heroin stole all of that from him before it stole his life! His laughter would cheer up even your darkest days. His smile would drown out all the bad In the world. Everyone who knew Collin could count on him, no matter what! Even those who weren't close to him, if he could help, he would. He was a hard worker, a good provider to his fianceé and her daughter. He left this world not knowing he was to be a father. He would have made a wonderful Daddy! Heroin stole that! If he had been given the chance, he would made a different choice now. Worked harder to stay clean and be the father he didn't have. Heroin stole that second chance. I'll never let them forget his light, his love, his story, his life! I'll carry him with me wherever I go spreading love, light, and courage in his name as long as I have breathe left in me.
We love you Collin. Forevermore

My mother battled addiction for a long time but when she was around, she had a smile that could brighten a room, a heart of gold, and she had a sense of humor that could make you laugh against your efforts not to laugh. She cared and loved deeply, and should be remembered as such.

I miss Kelsey's sense of humor. I miss her phone calls and how she would jump into my arms when I would visit her. I miss how she would sit next to me and lay her head on my shoulder. I still feel that sometimes and incline my head back to where hers was. Kelsey had the most incredible smile that would light up in her eyes and light up the room.

Kelsey was my youngest, her brother and sister were 12 and 10 years older. But they loved Kelsey and she idolized them so there was not an estranged gap between the siblings. She had many friends and loved her family and extended family. There is a hole in our hearts because she is no longer with us, but we still feel her presence in unique signs that only she and her loved ones would be aware of. That is a consolation when the pain becomes unbearable.

Peggy Jo McCracken was a very beautiful, strong, outgoing person and she loved everyone. She had a heart of gold. She got messed up with a bad group of friends who started using drugs and she struggled for years fighting this battle. She said she had to fight this so she took her two beautiful kids and left town. She started working and seemed to have beat it. She was drug free for a year then had to come back home for personal reasons. She went to a bar that night, where her drink was spiked by someone who then took her back to his place. She was yelling for help but no one came. How sick can people be. When we heard the next day on the scanner there was a DOA found, I froze and had the worst things going through my head. I then grab Peggy's and my kids and head that way. I went up to the officer told him my aunt Peggy Jo McCracken was missing and explain what she looks like. The officer looks at me and says that I need to stay here, and I started screaming. I knew it was her by the way the officer was talking. After five hours of being there the officer says we need u at headquarters please. I then find out my aunt Peggy was murdered. I then went nuts and had to be held down. I want answers. Peggy had such a good heart and loved everyone and worked her butt off. She would never hurt a fly. I feel justice was not served. Prison is to easy but my aunt Peggy Jo's life was taken way too soon. Her babies lost their mother, I lost my aunt, her brothers and sister lost their baby sister. Does he understand what he has done to our family? Her kids most of all don't deserve this and her beautiful granddaughter that she does not get to meet. Peggy would ave loved her so much R.i.p Peggy Jo McCracken love u and miss u so much I know u are watching over your babies and us.

I miss everything about my son, David. His smile, his witty comments, his stories, his laughter. I miss him trying to share his taste of music with me and his despair at my own musical tastes, I miss holding him and kissing him and sitting on his bed with him to watch his programs. I miss talking to him about everything from history to religion. I miss seeing him sitting on the porch smoking his cigarette while scrolling through the latest news bulletins on his phone. I miss watching him grow older.

David absolutely loved music festivals. He devoured books by the thousands, particularly science fiction books and was an avid writer of short stories and poetry.

David battled anxiety and depression for years but his addiction to opioids began when he was prescribed pain medication after he had his wisdom teeth removed. He was 20 at the time. This lead to a heroin addiction. After a long and difficult struggle, David agreed to consider a local outpatient rehab treatment center. We selected one that prescribed suboxone and included a psychiatric evaluation. However, after 18 months attending the center, he never once saw a psychiatrist and because the doctor associated with the center had put him on Effexor and Klonopin, he now had to be weened off those as well. We tried to get him an appointment with other psychiatrists, but they either wouldn't return our calls or refused to see him on the basis that he was "a drug addict." What!? One counselor I took him to refused to help him unless he agreed to stop taking drugs...this was the reason he needed counseling! David finally admitted that he needed serious help and agreed to go into a residential rehab center in south Florida. He spent a week in detox before moving to the rehab center. Even here I had to fight with the treatment center to get him in with a psychiatrist even though I chose this particular center as it claimed to offer dual prognosis and treatment, dealing with his addiction at the same time as his mental issues. We fought with him to stay in there as long as possible but after five weeks he won the battle and he left despite his counselor advising him to stay. He came home on Sunday July 26th, he was in excellent spirits and told us he felt better than he had in years. I found him in his room on the morning of July 28th. The autopsy revealed Fentanyl in his system.

Andrew had a small group of friends who he hung out with on his days off. He would cook meals for them and they would go on random adventures, just driving to different cities. He went to a bar by himself and never made it home. He was an organ donor but unfortunately, nothing could be recovered. I didn't realize he had a drinking problem. This doesn't seem real. We miss you every day.