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

My little brother Mikey was a kind hearted soul. He was an amazing Uncle to my children and a pain in the butt brother to my sister Katie and I. He was the only son to my Mother and Father. We were so blessed to have Mikey in our lives for the 29 years we did. He was much more than his addiction. Mikey had just came out of rehab and got his 5 month chip a few days before he was called to heaven. Unfortunately for my brother and my family, Fentanyl took him. We miss him very much and his Legacy will be more than his addiction. Rest Easy Brother, we love you always.
❤️🖤❤️🖤

My brother had a sad life growing up. He ended up in a reform school, foster home and later jail. He suffered from severe back pain and was on prescribed drugs. He later decided to use heroin and ended up overdosing. He left behind two daughters and a son along with me and another brother.

My son, Jason, was loved by everyone who knew him. He had the best laugh, a great personality and a huge heart for helping others. He just couldn’t love himself enough to overcome his addiction. After struggling with this disease for most of his adult life, “one last time” took his life.
He is loved and missed beyond measure.

Jesse was my little brother, and though we grew apart in our adulthood, he was always someone special in my heart. I have so many memories full of laughter with him, and I wish I could have known him better. I wish that addiction had not taken him away.

Michael struggled for 15 years and sought out recovery often. For the last 10 years, he was in an almost yearly cycle of relapse and recovery. He tried medication assisted services but at various times, meds were weaned off. His last recovery period was just shy of 16 months. He received a monthly Vivitrol injection for 14 months. He was very active in NA and had a wonderfully supportive group of friends. He was fully employed, lived in a cute house which he loved, paid his bills and had money in the bank. He was so hopeful for his long term recovery and so were we. What happened that Friday night, we'll never fully understand. His sponsor would have been there if Michael would have only reached out. Michael relapsed alone with his drug of choice, heroin. Sadly, it was heavily laced with fentanyl. He once told me that when he relapsed he KNEW to cut way back..... and I screamed at him that it wouldn't matter if it was cut with fentanyl. We're now left to live with this horrific loss. We should be navigating through a relapse, not his death.

You know that one friend everyone has that you always have to warn newcomers about? You know, the one you have to tell to be nice, can’t ever put them on speaker phone, but yet the biggest heart and the warmest smile? Who comes to my mind is my best friend, Dustin Stockowitz, and he was taken from us way too soon on July 21st, 2019.
Dustin struggled with addiction for many years. Dating back before we met, he learned to cope with his insecurities in unfortunate ways. Introduced to marijuana first, he quickly escalated to much harder substances. Not long before we met, his doting mother stuck by his side to hold him up through rounds of rehab. Dustin was able to be clean for long periods of time, just unable to ultimately stay sober. There always seemed to be some life event that would push him backwards into using again.
A little background on my relationship with Dustin; We met when I was 19, he 18. Dustin was a friend of my, at the time, boyfriend. Dustin began coming over to our home on a regular basis, and he and I became good friends. At 23, I found myself pregnant. Dustin stepped up to the plate where he didn’t have to. In 2014, Dustin’s miniature version of himself was born. Then, 2017 brought his youngest son, and class clown. Dustin was truly one hell of a father.
Our relationship had its bumps, yet despite it all, he and I both knew we were loved. Ultimately he knew he could call me no matter what, no matter when, and no matter where, I’d be there. In my heart, I know without a doubt, he would have done the same for me.
Fast forwarding to July 20th, 2019. We were broke, homeless, my mom had our kids, and both of us lost souls only trying to make it to the next day. It was that night, in our grungy, tiny, disgusting 9-day-old-dirty diaper smelling hotel room that we decided we were done. Together, we decided to get clean, to be parents, and to love ourselves as everyone else loved us.
The next morning, I found my best friend purple. He was dead. I frantically called 911 while trying to administer narcan, praying with everything in myself he would pull through. I called his mom with the intent of pissing him off, because at that moment, I just needed his voice. The rest is all a blur. Police, Fireman, EMT’s, voices, pushing, screaming, crying… and the shrill sound of his mother’s ear shattering scream as the EMT told her that her son was dead.
Assisting in the planning of the love of my life’s funeral at 30 years old is not something I ever imagined doing. I remember telling his mom multiple times throughout the planning “We shouldn’t be doing this”. Seven months after the services, and I still couldn’t tell anybody the events of the days surrounding his death. All I know for sure is that I never knew such pain was capable. Grief is not something that just goes away. It is forever engraved. Time does not heal grief. Time only teaches you how to live with grief.
Not a day goes by that I don’t think of Dustin. Not a day goes by that I don’t wish he was here. Maybe it’s the way our daughter howled as I took her up to see his urn. Or maybe it’s because our 2 year old son does not stop crying until I come back into the room, for fear of never seeing me again. It could even be the way he smiled at me as I picked him up from work. Any reason provided, I will forever miss his beautiful soul.

In Loving Memory
Dustin John Stockowitz
6/15/89*7/21/19

Tyler was an only child. Always a great kid, his friends' parents when he was younger would always compliment me on how well behaved he was and quiet, until he got to know you, then he was always funny, caring about others, and had a very big heart.
I feel like I was the lucky one to be Tyler’s mom
He made me in to the person I am today
Tyler was my everything
My love my heartbeat the sun on a rainy day
He was my common sense, he gave me patience, he always reminded me of kindness
I miss him so much Everyday, the pain in my heart and soul is like the day God took you from me
I love you son, I was the lucky one to be your mom
I love you happy Angel Valentine
❤️ Mom

Bree struggled with addiction for many years. She started with pot and it progressed from there. I miss her so much and my heart is broken.

Beautiful smile, big blue eyes like her Dad. Loved the beach and her dog Jamee. Missed and loved so very much ♥️

Josh was a very kindhearted man who would give you the shirt off his back literally (I witnessed him do exactly that to a total stranger). He was a very talented artist. Josh loved to make people laugh even though he was fighting his own demons. He was one of the most unselfish people you could ever meet. Josh is loved & missed by so many. I love you so much, there's not a day that goes by that I don't think of you! Till we meet again.

He loved more deeply than anyone I have ever known. In turn, he hurt more deeply than anyone I have ever known. He lived 20 years with his addiction. Although he died sober, the impact on his body from years of abuse took its toll. I loved him the moment I laid my eyes on him until his last breath. He was my soulmate. I’m proud to have known him.

Alex was an adventurous young man who made a casual decision to try a pill and started an eight month journey to his death.
He was a dependable, loyal worker and a loving and gentle son. His three siblings miss his funny ways, his loud reggae music, and his giant bear hugs.
Named the GoldenSoul after his passing, he is remembered for always looking out for his friends and strangers, and for his living hugs and a glorious, light-up-the-world smile.
Alex loved Naruto, Star Wars and sandwiches, but mostly he loved his intertwined family and was a joy to be around.

Megan lost her battle with mental illness and addiction last October. Megan had the biggest heart in the world. She loved working concrete construction with her dad. She loved food. Megan grew up and graduated high school in Windsor, Ct. She will be forever missed!

My Son was nicknamed Bunky. He had 2 beautiful Daughters that he loved more than anything. He really struggled with his addiction. Bunky was a very Loyal person. He was always smiling and joking around. He is missed by his Mom, Daughters, and many Friends. It doesn’t get any easier. He is in Heaven looking over us now.

Mother and grandmother that struggled with addiction her entire life. Left behind 3 daughters, Corrine, Brittany and Cheyenne. And 4 grandsons, Dylan, Cody, Andrue and Isaac. And 2 granddaughters, Sadie and Alonah. 2 of her grandchildren never got to meet their grandma. She was loved by us all very much and we miss her more than we could ever explain.

Michael was a fun loving guy. He always wanted everyone to feel included. He had a compassionate heart. Drugs changed him. He fought his addiction for a long time. He was freed from his addiction the day he went to be with Jesus. We love him and miss him every day.

JOSHUA
MI
1990-2017

Hi I'm Josh. I'm a great son, brother, grandson, friend & father. I was in a car accident & was started on narcotics for pain. I didn't know that was the beginning of the end. I was immediately addicted. My body & mind craved drugs 24/7. I went to rehab a couple times, but insurance only covered 14 days. That wasn't enough. I battled with my addiction every day, while maintaining being a father. I lost my battle on 3/28/17. Two days earlier I had decided I would go to rehab again. I hated this life... but I wanted to live. I lost. Gone too soon from a DISEASE that needed intense treatment. I miss my kids, my family... but not the pain & shame that comes with addiction. I will see you all again some day...

Patrick was a great young man who played lacrosse. He injured his shoulder and everything went downhill from there. He was always honest with me. We both tried so hard to stop the downward spiral! He just couldn’t beat it. It finally took him 2/18/17.
My life hasn’t been the same since! He is missed and forever loved by so many!

Tracy was one of the most beautiful people. She was my first best friend and a wonderful sister. She always made me smile. She loved her family so much. She had many years of struggle and still came out on top. I love and miss her so much. We never expected this to happen. If she had only had more time with us. She was 42 years old when she was called home. Until we meet again Sis, I love you!!!!