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CARTERET COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) – After losing her 26-year-old son, Tyler Dees, to fentanyl in 2022, Annie Brown of Carteret County has turned unimaginable grief into a powerful mission of hope and healing for others battling addiction.
Dees, a Carteret County native, was known for his love of fishing, making lures, and spending time with friends and family. His mother says his death came after years of struggling with mental health issues.
“I got the call the next day from his dad that he was gone,” Brown said. “I knew he was going to pass away before I moved back from California, I just didn’t know it would happen right before the holidays. He’s at peace right now with all the demons he was battling. He was diagnosed at a very early age with depression.”
Brown says her son’s death was not an isolated tragedy.
“The year that he passed away, we had 39 overdose deaths here in Carteret County,” she said. “Right now, we’re currently at five, and if we could just get it to zero, that would be awesome because one is too many.”
Determined to make a difference, Brown founded Fish Against Addiction, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting those in recovery and raising awareness about addiction.
“I immediately knew that I wanted to do something,” she said. “Flying back home that night, I just kept thinking, we’ve got to do something. There are too many young people passing away from fentanyl.”
The organization’s name honors Tyler’s lifelong love of fishing — a passion shared by many in the local community.
“He was very passionate about fishing,” said Matt Lamb, owner of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors in Atlantic Beach. “He came in weekly, always chasing fish, making lures — he just really loved to fish.”
Beyond her nonprofit work, Brown also partners with Carteret County’s Post-Overdose Response Team, visiting high schools to share her story and educate students about the dangers of substance abuse.
“We need to break the stigma about drug and alcohol addiction,” she said. “They are people too. They deserve second chances and they deserve to be loved and accepted just like everybody else.”
Fish Against Addiction now hosts an annual fishing tournament that draws hundreds of participants and raises funds for local recovery programs. The first event, held in November 2023, raised $50,000. This year’s third annual tournament continues to grow, bringing the community together around a shared mission of compassion and recovery.
For those interested in getting involved, making a donation, or signing up for the next tournament, visit fishagainstadiction.com.