Introduction

The main purpose of this website is to contradict the perception of drug addicts as worthless, low-life losers; to drive home the point that anyone can develop an addictive illness. As you will see, many good people do. I also hope that these heart-breaking stories of pain and loss may influence young viewers to avoid all contact with harmful substances.

In terms of public perception, drug addicts probably occupy the lowest rung of society in present-day America. This attitude comes across loud and clear on TV - "just another 'junkie' death," etc. They are, truly, our modern day lepers. Many grieving moms, like myself, admit to having held these same prejudicial images of drug addicts prior to their own children's involvement with substance abuse. While those who live long enough may become dirty, immoral criminals, they do not start out that way. Many do not live long enough to ever reach that point.

When my beautiful, wonderful, talented, and loving 16 year old daughter died from drugs, I assumed that she was an exception. What I soon learned was, she was not. As I created a slide show of young lives lost to addiction, I was struck by how much promise, and love, was lost with each and every one of them. And, how devastated each family has been by their passing. They were not worthless "nobodies." They were young people; full of promise, with many diverse talents and gifts, and, with families who had loved and who now deeply grieve them.

Every time I hear some derogatory comment like "just another junkie death", I think, "No! That was somebody's loved one!" To quote a Bensalem High School teacher, Mark Banchi, "These are not statistics; they are children, teenagers, and adults with dreams, talents, stories and much to contribute. They cannot be silenced and must not be ignored. They are someone's daughter, someone's brother, someone's friend, and might just save your life or add more meaning to it." Should you doubt these words, I encourage you to visit at least two pages on this website:

My daughter, Katie Kevlock, was a wonderful, loving, and talented young person. But in no way was she an exception when it comes to people suffering from the illness of addiction. We MUST put a "face" on this illness. A "real" face; a "face" of beauty, talent, promise, and love, like those of Trevor, Joseph, and all the others. I invite you to read the stories of all of these young people, about the promise they held, the talents they had, and the pain that their families have suffered.

It is time that we recognize drug addicts as the sick and suffering souls that they are, and provide them with the compassionate attention and care that would be given anyone struggling with a terminal illness. And pray for the day when we figure out how to prevent this deadly scourge and rid our world of the evil drugs. Until that day comes, I have a special message for young people viewing this website. Don't even try anything that is illegal. (Alcohol is illegal if you are underage) It is illegal for a reason: drugs are deadly. They destroy families. They cause most of our crimes. And, last, but not least, they kill people. Good people. People whose families and friends will never be the same again.

And do not be fooled by the myth that marijuana is harmless. It is not. Most of the people featured on this website died from heroin. But almost every one of them started with marijuana. Furthermore, think about this - anyone who offers to "share" anything that could harm you, or get you started on a dangerous path, is not a friend! They never were.

Would you want your family to have your picture and story on this website?

Faces of Addiction © Sue
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