Drug-induced homicide killed my son
By Kristy Dyroff – – Thursday, April 27, 2023
OPINION:
Victims of drug-induced homicide and their affected family members are not given the resources and recognition they deserve. I know this because I am one.
Wesley, my son, was a 22-year-old college student in 2007 when he injured his knee playing football with friends. As his mother, I sent him to our family physician for care. This was when our nightmare began. My son was prescribed increasingly higher doses of opioids for the pain, caught in the spiral of greed initiated by Purdue Pharma. Our entire family struggled through his addiction as he valiantly fought his way through half a dozen rehab programs, intensive outpatient programs, halfway houses and Narcotics Anonymous. He finally found success at a faith-based, nine-month rehab program, where he developed his own faith and strength. I was overjoyed to have my kind, thoughtful, beautiful son back as the amazing gentle giant he had grown to be.
On Aug. 19, 2015, when my husband and I found him dead in his home after being sober for two years, I was devastated by the grief.