WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. —
While millions of people are watching the NCAA Tournament, Forsyth County is hoping their ad about a mother who lost her son to addiction, will spread awareness.
The ad created by Forsyth County Behavioral Health Services starts with mother Stephanie Lynch telling her story about what happened to her 27-year-old son Evan who died in 2020 after battling addiction.
Lynch said Evan was injured on a job and given oxycodone by his doctor. She says he became addicted to the opioids and once he could no longer get the pain pills, he started using heroin.
Lynch said Evan went to rehab several times and struggled. It’s something she says he couldn’t stop.
“Evan hated being addicted to opioids, he hated it. He would tell me, ‘you know, mom, I don’t want to die as a drug addict, I don’t want that to be what people remember me for,'” Lynch said.
On April 11, 2020, Evan died from Fentanyl poisoning.
Although he lost that fight, Lynch said he’s no longer in pain and is at peace now.
Her hope is his story will help others.
“His death maybe was not in vain that, you know, his story can help someone else going through the same thing be able to get help or see that they need help or a family member to see that they need help,” Lynch said.
Now Lynch and her son’s story will be displayed for millions of people to see throughout the month of March during NCAA tournament coverage.
“It’s devastating to lose someone you know to substance abuse. It just destroys your whole family. So if there’s anything I can do to help anyone, I’m always willing to do that,” Lynch said.
Annie Vasquez, a Substance Use Health Educator said the ad was created to show the realities of the opioid epidemic in Forsyth County and everywhere.
“The reality is that it touches every single age group, every single race, gender and zip code,” Vasquez said.
Vasquez said in addition to this ad, they have another one airing that’s centered around pills.
Anyone struggling with addiction or knows someone struggling with addiction can reach out to Forsyth County Behavioral Health Services for help.
Read the full article and watch the video on the WXII 12 News website.