The Devastation of Opiates in This Country 

A Personal Reflection 

July 2, 2019 — the day my little brother stopped breathing, but his memory became something that will breathe within me forever.

He wasn’t just another statistic. He was my brother — my inspiration in ways that didn’t make sense on paper. Even though I was many years older, I looked up to him because of his fearless punk rock attitude, his love for life, and his contagious laughter. He was a goofball — the kind of person who could make you laugh even when you didn’t want to.

But behind that smile, there were battles I didn’t fully see. I remember seeing him in a coma more times than I can count — a body caught in war with itself. He didn’t just struggle with opiates — he also struggled with alcohol. Those two forces combined turned someone who was so full of life into just a memory.

Opiates didn’t just steal his breath… they changed him in ways I can’t put into words. I’m not here to place blame — addiction wasn’t him. Addiction was a thief that robbed him of choices, power, and time. I loved my brother more than words can describe, and I know I’m not the only one who has felt this kind of loss.

At the end of 2025, 73,000 to 75,000 lives were lost in this country to opioid abuse and the lethal rise of fentanyl. This isn’t just numbers — these are fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, friends… human beings with stories, dreams, laughter, and love. And the scariest part? Fentanyl is killing more people every year — in ways that are fast, unpredictable, and nearly impossible to detect before it’s too late, Even though there have been a decline in overdose deaths by approximately 21% for the year ending August 2025 compared to the previous 12-month period this is still not enough .

There are people out there who don’t care about the fact that their poison is murdering others — and they’re making money doing it. That’s a kind of devastation that goes beyond sorrow. It ignites a fire to change the world.

We must find better ways to treat addiction — not punish it, not ignore it, but actually heal it.

I’ve heard so many times that cannabis helps — and I believe there’s something powerful in that. Cannabis isn’t a cure-all, but evidence suggests it can help:

Ease withdrawal symptoms

Reduce anxiety and physical discomfort

Provide a non-lethal alternative to opioids for pain management

Support mental and emotional regulation

Create space for healing instead of harming

I’m not just saying this because it’s trending — I’m saying this because there has to be a better way than watching people we love disappear.

My brother designed something before he died — a simple idea made with Legos that he called Bricks to Recovery. It was more than a toy — it was a therapeutic craft, a way to keep your mind focused and present, away from cravings and pain. He believed in the power of creativity to distract, empower, and heal. And now, I want to take that idea further.

I would love to build a program — Bricks to Recovery — that uses creativity, craft, and community as therapy. Not just Legos, but tools and activities that help people find a path for themselves — to cope with withdrawal, to express pain without judgment, to build something meaningful instead of destroying themselves.

And I want cannabis to be part of that conversation — not as an escape, but as a tool for healing, for soothing the body and mind while someone regains control of their life.

This isn’t just about memory anymore. This is about action.
This is about healing.
This is about saving lives.

And I won’t stop until something changes.

Rest In Piece Little Brother

6/4/1987-7/2/2019