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

My husband had a smile that would light up a room. He was so kind and caring and had the biggest heart of anyone I know. He tried so hard to live for his family and fight his demons. He will forever be missed. He was an amazing husband and father.

My son was brilliant, intellectually ahead of his time and technologically advanced beyond what I could possibly imagine.
He has a four year old son and two year old daughter who will never see their dad again or see why people loved him so much.
We had suspicions but they weren't confirmed until about three weeks before his passing that he was definitely using. People tried to tell us but we didn't want to believe he was foolish enough to touch the stuff. He hid his addiction so well but once he realized we had undeniable proof he could no longer hide it.
It was evident to me he wanted to live a normal, boring life like the rest of us and work and have his kids back again.
He would do anything to help anyone and knew how to hustle to get where he wanted to be whether it was fixing cars or computers in exchange for his favorite video games or a tow when his own car would break down.
He was a prankster who loved to have fun and knew how to live life but the harder parts of his life led to his addiction to heroin.
He was doing so well and the last week he was alive he fixed us dinner and helped us out more than usual and we had some laughs. He was Roger again and even had a good job lined up.
The next day was a mother's worst nightmare. I found him dead in his room of a heroin fentanyl overdose.
I would give anything to have him back....
Rest easy son, you're no longer suffering and have earned your wings...I will love you all the rest of my life.....

My Samantha. Loved by her family. Missed by many. Sam had struggled with heroin addiction. She was given 100% fentanyl.

She was a gifted artist and had just given birth to a beautiful baby boy five months before her death.

We are devastated.

What a joy he was to have in our life. He was a great son, father, and my brother. He fought addiction since he was a young boy. He tried to overcome it, he hated himself for not being strong enough to fight the disease that took his sweet love from us! Not a day goes by we don’t think of him. Till we meet again brother, sissy will do all I can here on earth. And your kids will never forget you.

My beautiful son Joey had a generous heart and an extremely funny sense of humor. He had a magnetic personality. He struggled for seven long years with his addiction. I want to remember him the way he was prior to his struggles, and the beautiful relationship we shared. He is missed by his family very much. I think of him every minute of every day. I know he is with me always. Love you my Joey xoxo

My dad. The man, the myth, the legend. Struggled with addiction his entire life. He lived a life of drugs, gangs, and prison. Any time he could talk to me, he never let me forget how much he loved me, though. His laugh was hilarious. He was a free bird, nothing could hold him down. He fought hard. Tragically, fentanyl was what took his life. He ended up on life support. His bear hugs and smile and his pretty blue eyes are what I miss the most.

My firstborn. So funny. Great father, brother, and son.

Loving father, fiancé, brother, son, and friend. I miss his laugh, his smile, and his voice. Addiction is a horrible thing to suffer from, he said when he was not using drugs, he used to hate the person looking back at him in the mirror. He still battled demons that he never dealt with, which caused a relapse which led to his death. Did he think that would be the last time? Of course not, did he want to use? Of course not. The fact is no one does want to use, but you never know what someone is trying to escape from.

He always lit up the room when he walked in it. I miss him so much. If you know someone struggling with addiction, tell them you love them. It may be the last time you get to.

Joey was a kind, loving soul. He was my best friend as well as my son. Joey is deeply missed by all his friends and family. We love you Joey.

My Matthew was one of the most kind, intelligent, lovable caring soul!! From the first day he was born till the day of his death he was a fighter!! We never gave up on him--he just gave up on himself!! We loved Matthew as if he was the only soul on this earth!! We miss him and think of him every second of the day!! 143 my sweet angel

Jacob attended Hendersonville High School where he was a member of the Commando Basketball team. He loved all sports and played on the AAU TN Panthers basketball team. He also enjoyed music and video games. He was a selfless, fun, goofy guy who wore his heart on his sleeve. Jacob would light up a room and above all else, he loved his family. We will always miss him and forever hold him in our hearts. 

My angel Joseph was the most loving and kind hearted soul. Joseph had a fierce sense of humor. You were always laughing with him!!! He was an amazing person.
He struggled with this opiate addiction pretty sure 2 years before we lost him.
He tried!! He did go into treatment few times!!! I was unaware of this opiate addiction for a while. He was 24 and working and living with his aunt to get back and fourth.
I ended up having to have him sectioned. Meaning he was a danger to himself and others. This was to himself. Was trying to get that done while he was in the hospital from his 13th overdose. They made it almost impossible. Well they agreed. In he went. I figured he’ll hate me. But I KNEW WITHOUT a doubt I was losing him. Well he came out of the facility and was taking vivatrol. One shot a month. He did it for 2 months. And that 3rd month we lost him. 25 years old. Joseph has a huge family and was absolutely adored!! A lot of friends and people who loved him ... I cannot believe it still. He adored his younger sister like I can’t explain. Extremely protective.
I know if I completely crumble, not WHAT HE WOULD want!! Dealing or struggling through this is a pain I will never be able to explain. Thank God for my daughter and family. I did really hold on. Get up, stop, you have a beautiful daughter. I realized I will have this pain as we all will forever.
Did I want to celebrate any holiday? Absolutely not. Then I felt like he was letting me know how selfish that is. You have no right to take that from my sister. She’s 20. I have made small steps because of the love my son and his sister had. No matter what, I cannot take all of this away from her.
Today I struggle everyday. There’s not a second I don’t think of him. I miss him like I cannot explain. May god bless my son.
I know he’s with the angels. This will never go away!!! One minute at a time. 🙏🙏

My Nicholas struggled with pills and then moved on to heroin. We fought until the very end, 6 years of struggling, on Oct 18th 2016. I got the call I knew was coming! He really tried so hard, he just couldn’t fight it anymore! He was 24 years old December 15. We will celebrate his life. 4 bdays without him! We miss him terribly. He was smart, funny, good looking. When he walked into a room he lit it up with his smile! Always kept us laughing until that demon took him from us! It’s just heart wrenching living without him everyday 😢😢😢😢😢

Elias was funny, sweet, caring and so much more. He was on the autistic spectrum and used weed to self-medicate. Sadly, he met some people who saw someone vulnerable and the one time that he tried a hard drug, it killed him.

Our hearts are broken forever....

My brother was an amazing man after his addiction and prison time. He got out of prison. And still drank tho. He took care of his family and kids very well tho. He loved to make people smile and cared deeply about his loved ones. He was killed by a driver who was drinking.

My Precious daughter Kristina was such a happy young girl. She is my youngest daughter of two. She was loved by many.
She would walk into a room and brighten up the room with her Beautiful smile and her great sense of humor.. She battled addiction for 4 years. She had her ups and downs. Just when we thought she was dong her best, we got the horrible call. She had an accidental overdose.. she never woke up from it. I never got to say Good bye.. She left behind two beautiful boys 11 and 6, whom now live with me.. I miss my Daughter so much. Our lives changed forever on Jun 28 2017!

Tried so hard to please his family, but addiction took our Casey.

Josh always wanted to be understood and accepted. He was loving and caring and would give his shirt off his back to another. He had addiction issues as a teen, and this was compounded when his cousin committed suicide in the next room when Josh went to visit. Things went from bad to worse. He left for two years and got clean, and a job! But he was living out of his car because he didn’t make enough for rent. He came back home and I begged him not to stay in our little town because I was afraid he would start using again. He did. He got a girlfriend that was on Meth-and he started meth and heroin. After a year he got into trouble with the police. I took him to a detox center for Methadone but he had to go everyday - the clinic was an hour drive each way. He did this for a month. But he didn’t want to keep up with the driving so he stopped. He kept telling me he wanted to get his life back- that he felt stuck and he wanted to get better. He ODed on Valentine’s Day 2019. I was able to do CPR until the ambulance came. He was intubated and was transported to a bigger hospital. After a 5 day stay he couldn’t handle being there any longer and checked himself out. We talked again about him getting into a program and he didn’t want to drive the hour... or he said he couldn’t because his girlfriend wouldn’t have anyone to take care of her. He started buying methadone off the street and trading things for it. August 1st was the last time I saw my son alive. He met me at a thrift shop- he had asthma very badly, and he promised to go home to use his nebulizer. We had a good conversation that day, and the evening before- he asked me if I could see that he was more clear headed and we could have real conversations. He apologized for so many things- told me he loved me and that he was going to turn his life around-he messaged me at 7:20 that evening. I had tried calling and messaging him back but he had not responded, which was common. I got a call a little after midnight from his girlfriend's ex-boyfriend's aunt, telling me that Josh had been found dead on the floor by his girlfriend. I drove a mile to the house, and yes, he was. I called 911, but there was no saving him this time. His drugs were laid out on the bed. It took over three months for the coroner report. Heroin and methamphetamine intoxication-accidental. I was very involved in my sons life. Sometimes as parents we are codependent or enable and we do not know how to help our addicted children. A day does not go by that I do not think of my son.

My son had a lot of struggles with drugs in life😢 Anthony was in and out of prison. Anthony was the father of 2 beautiful boys and we all miss him so much💔😢😇🦋

Lover of music, food, adventure, family and friends. Talented musician and loved son, brother, uncle, cousin, nephew and friend. Loved by all who knew him.