Our Story

I lost my son, Jesse, to an opioid overdose in 2019. He was 36 years old.

Jesse had struggled for over 20 years with an opioid addiction – one that took a terrible toll on my family, Jesse’s health and relationships, and ultimately his life. The pain of losing a child in this way is one that no parent or loved one should ever have to experience. And it’s what led me to founding Lawyers Against Drug Addiction in August of 2019. 

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LADA HELPING OTHERS

Declared a public health emergency by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in 2017, the opioid epidemic has taken a horrific toll on families just like mine – all across our nation. In the U.S., over 96,000 people die from drug overdoses alone in a single year – and opioids are a factor in 7 out of every 10 of these overdose deaths. Moreover, an estimated 10 million people misuse opioids in a single year, leading to lifelong battles with addiction and drug use (National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics).

Families like mine – and maybe yours – are impacted every single day by the horrors of drug addiction. There’s not a single day that goes by where I don’t feel the profound ache of losing my son to this disease. There simply aren’t words to express this level of grief – and my heart goes out to families like mine who are living with these losses. 

On days that feel the darkest, I make it my mission to honor Jesse’s memory by spreading awareness and directing resources to support rehabilitation centers that do the essential work of providing care and treatment to those struggling with drug addiction. 

That’s my mission with LADA: to support drug rehabilitation centers that are actively working to help people struggling with drug addiction – as well as drug addiction prevention and education programs. While prayers and well-wishes are important, it takes regular financial support to help combat this crisis.

Please consider giving your financial support to Lawyers Against Drug Addiction. Every penny you donate to LADA will be spent funding drug rehabilitation centers in the United States as well as supporting drug addiction prevention programs and initiatives doing the important work of helping people struggling with addiction – and working to prevent this disease from taking hold of the lives of our young people. 

In the past, we have supported Bethel Colony of Mercy in North Carolina, a place that was dear to Jesse – and the place where he received the most support and effective care. The center supports participants through intensive therapy, counseling, and work placement programs. Lawyers Against Drug Addiction is a 501c3 nonprofit.