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

Nick was born a few months before I turned 20. The first five years it was just the two of us. I remarried when Nick was 5 and had his sister when he was 6, and his brother when he was 8. He took piano lessons and loved music. At age 10 my husband and I divorced. I took my 3 children and moved back to Knoxville. When Katie and Cameron went to their dads for weekends or holidays, it was just the 2 of us. Nick continued playing piano and added poetry. Nick had friends and did great until he started high school. I knew nothing about addiction. When Nick was drunk he was aggressive and impulsive, he wasn't my sweet baby. By the time Nick had turned 18 his drug use was out of control. Nick was still able to excel in college. When Nick was 20 he went to rehab. He got kicked out for being under the influence and went back a few months later. I never saw him alive again.
My son, Katie and Cameron's brother was gone and wouldn't be coming back.
I miss seeing Nick scratch his whiskers. I miss his smile, how witty he was, watching him make a sandwich and mostly just hanging out and talking. Life will never be the same. I often wonder how our lives would have turned out had we made better choices. My love for you, Katie and Cameron will never die.

Travis was a loving son, a loyal friend, and an avid Green Bay Packers fan. He was a smart, funny, caring, and hardworking young man. Described by his closest friends, “Travis was a great friend with a huge heart. He was understanding and caring, loyal and loving. He made people feel comfortable. He was always willing to listen to someone’s problems to try and help them find a solution. He made his friends feel like they mattered and the focus was on each other when they were together. Travis was brave. He was outgoing, witty, and loved to make people laugh. If he wanted to have a good time, he went out of his way to ensure everyone was going to have a great time as well. He always knew how to make you smile.”

Travis was also a young man with a substance use disorder. A disease that is misunderstood by so many, a disease that he tried to fight but that was bigger than him in the end. It is the hope of his family that others who are struggling with addiction issues will seek out the help they need.

Ethan was funny, made everyone laugh with his silly jokes. Even in his darkest hours, he would tell his family how much he loved them. I have kept all of his beautiful letters. Loved kids, wanted to be a history teacher and coach. Intelligent, athletic. I am forever with a hole in my heart.

My daughter was always so bubbly. She brought life into every room. She always made everyone feel better than before she arrived. She watched her mom and dad go through a divorce when she was eight years old. At 15 her mother moved out of state, and she chose to move in with her father, he was not nearly as strict with her, she ended up spending a lot of time away from home at friends' houses. Began dabbling with pills. Met a man who was on Suboxone and was injecting it, there came a day where she got interested and she had him do it to her. After that, she became fully addicted for years, both of her children being born with substance dependence. She lost her battle last year 11/24/2017. I miss her so much, as her mother, this is the hardest thing I have ever been through. I wish her back more than anything! God bless you Alison!

Michael grew up with his mom and brother in Cary, NC He lost his fight with addiction at 24 while living in a half way house in Wilmington, NC. His favorite reading was 'Just For Today'. He would definitely want all his friends and loved one to remember how precious this life is and to live it with hope and gratitude, one day at a time. Michael passed away with two bands on his arm, 'Remember' and 'Know Hope'. 'Remember' was for all who lost their battles with addiction and 'Know Hope', his brother's favorite saying and tattoo, who he had lost to murder four years earlier. He will always be remembered as a beautiful generous soul who left us far too soon. #knowhope #justfortoday

Rebekah was a beautiful mother who lost her way. She began using heroin in May 2017 and it took everything from her. It started with her losing her child, then her home and finally her life. She was a beautiful, smart and strong willed young woman who will forever be missed by those who loved her.

Melissa (Watson) and Herson Coello, husband and wife, both passed away unexpectedly to an accidental overdose. A fentanyl mix took them both out.

Melissa was my best friend and sister-n-law. We all grew up together. Melissa and Herson were high school sweet hearts. They were passionately dedicated to each other, their children and family.

They were universally admired for their generosity, compassion, and willingness to help anyone who asked in any situation. Together, they were larger than life. Light and laughter followed them wherever they went.

Melissa battled addiction silently for years. Those of us closest to her tried to help, but were painfully unsuccessful. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of her and I can't even put into words what this loss has done to our family and to me personally. I continue to lose most of my friends to addiction.

Melissa and Herson leave behind 4 beautiful boys.

I miss my son so much, words can hardly say. A piece of my heart is gone. I miss his phone calls and the little things he did as a caring son. He was an extremist in skateboarding, water boarding, and snow skiing. I love him so. He was such a precious gift to me.💙

My son was a wonderful person even with his addiction. He struggled with this demon for 11 years. It wasn't an every day thing for him, but when he used he went hard at it. There were many nights I would stay awake to keep checking on him if I knew he was using. He never even knew I did that. He OD'd twice before it finally took him. I remember getting him off the floor and trying to keep him moving until the ambulance came. His father found him out cold face down in the shower. There are too many bad times to talk about, but through it all I never stopped loving him. I was never ashamed of him. I just wanted my son to get better. This addiction led to many times in jail, rehab, and halfway houses. None of this worked. He had gone over a year without using but that devil on his shoulder came calling. Three different types of fentanyl was found in his system. My life will never be the same again. He was my only child. If he could have gotten therapy and drug counseling I think things may have turned out differently. I think we need to find out why they use, what pain are they trying to escape from? All I can tell you is this needs to stop. So many of his friends are also gone. No mother should ever have to go through the pain of losing her baby. It's a pain that I can't even explain. He took a big piece of me when he left. My heart is shattered....I love you Butch, Always and Forever..mom...Forever my angel

My son was my baby, my heart, and soul! He struggled with addiction from the age of 15! Our hearts are shattered!!

Nick struggled with substance use disorder for nine years. What I miss the most is hearing his I love you every time he left the house or ended a phone call.

Matthew fought a hard fight for six years. He finally had enough and sought help. Matt was a Union Pipefitter, loved his job, family, friends, and his cat Hamilton. He was 2 1/2 years sober living a great life. He was a sponsor and never gave up helping others. I miss his jokes, his love, and smiles. You are forever with me Matthew.

Jordan was a sweet loving person, he loved to travel and was a talented graffiti artist. He had two fur babies he loved so much, Hugo and Norman. He helped so many people in his sobriety... He is missed more then words can express by his family and his friends, we will never be the same. He brought so much joy to so many. Our lives are changed forever.

We will forever miss your beautiful smile, sense of humor, endless conversations about any topic imaginable, your undying love for us and your nephews, your awesome and crazy dance moves, your musical abilities to play anything you picked up and your brilliant writing and artistic drawings. You filled a huge part of our family that now consists of an open hole that will never be filled. We love you so much and hope you truly have found the peace and serenity you long looked for. I pray your pain from mental health issues and your addiction are no longer felt. But instead, you see the beauty you believed would one day be waiting for you. We love you with all our hearts and will miss you forever.

Throughout her life she battled with addiction on and off, but continually turned to Jesus as her source of hope and strength. She was a bright light to her three daughters and entire family. Our lives are dimmer without her in it. She hated her addiction and has left a legacy to fight for those that battle the way she did. We miss her SO much!

Justin was an energetic, funny loving kid. He was always laughing and smiling. As life went on the light in his eyes faded as I watched the son I loved slowly disappear. Though he was still trying to carry on as always, the spark inside him was dimming. He made the decision to get help but two days before his planned entrance into rehab he lost his fight and that light that flowed from within him is lost forever. We as a family are lost and broken. I miss my son, my friend, my heart.

He fought depression and PTSD.
He self medicated early starting with marijuana then progressed to heroin and cocaine.
He never wanted to be addicted to drugs, he wanted a family, children, a life! He had so much to live for.