He died from a heroin overdose.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

You just are in turmoil all the time

to see your child struggling and to see your child

not know what to do.

I truly believe, had there been the parent coach

availability to me when I was going through with my son,

the outcome could have been different.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

I can keep my child's memory alive

and hopefully help other parents not go through all the pain

that I went through.

He was always a very sentimental and a kindhearted child.

It's challenging to understand this is his disease doing this.

It's not a moral failing.

Support systems are so important.

Since I lost my son, I have tried

to help people understand what substance use disorder is

and that stigma does not need to exist.

Right now, there's no barriers for who

has substance use disorder.

There's a lot of basic things that everyone

can do to help with this.

So I ask that everyone participate

in National Drug Take Back Day.

Bring all of your medications that

have expired to a local drop-off site.

You can just search online and find one near you.

We all do that.

You put your prescription back up in the medicine cabinet.

If you're not ever going to use it,

or you're not currently using it, and/or it's expired,

get rid of it the correct way.

I am now raising my grandson, Ryder.

He's my inspiration.

And he looks just like his dad did.

You can make a difference in this epidemic.

We have to help each other.

We have to have kindness.

[MUSIC PLAYING]