Obituary becomes viral for its great honesty about opioid addiction

An obituary has become viral for its poignant openness to the cause of the subject's death – opioid addiction.

Madelyn Ellen Linsenmeir, 30, of Vermont, USA, died of opioid addiction. His family shared the story of the devastation inflicted on their lives by opioid addiction in a powerful obit.

"While her death was unexpected, Madelyn was suffering from drug addiction and for years we feared her addiction would claim her life," reads the first paragraph. "We are grateful that when she died, she was safe and that she was with her family."

What is striking about the obituary is that her family explained in detail how Linsenmeir's addiction began and how it gradually began to affect her relationships with those closest to her.

"When she was 16, she moved with her parents from Vermont to Florida to attend a high school performing arts," reads the obituary. "Shortly after, she tried OxyContin for the first time at a high school party, so it started a relationship with opiates that would dominate the rest." of his life."

"It's impossible to capture a person in an obituary, and particularly a person whose adult life was largely defined by drug addiction." For some, Maddie was only a junkie. they saw it depend, they stopped seeing her. And what a loss for them. Because Maddie was hilarious, warm, fearless and resilient. She could and wanted to talk to anyone, and when you were in her company, you wanted to stay. In a system that seems to be hardened against drug addicts and fails every day, she 's tied up with friends and delighted cops, social workers, public advocates, and doctors, who l? defended until the end. She was worshiped as a daughter, sister, niece, cousin, friend and mother, and being loved by Madelyn was always a wonderful gift. "

Linsenmeir is survived by his son Ayden, born in 2014. The obituary says that Linsenmeir has tried "harder and more relentless" to become sober than she "has ever seen anyone try it. anything ".

"But she recidivated and finally lost custody of her son, an unbearable loss," he continues.

"Over the last two years in particular, her illness has brought her into places of incredible darkness, and this darkness has worsened by herself, as each unspeakable thing that was happening to her and every horrible thing she was doing in the name of her illness was exponentially increasing her pain and impact.He was at home for 12 days this summer and she was sober for 12 days, filled with swimming, Disney movies and family dinners, but we always thought that she would conquer her illness.and we knew she deserved life.We believed this until the moment she took her last breath but her addiction followed and stole her again.We would have paid the ransom to recover it, no matter what price in the world, this disease does not would not let her go until she disappeared. "

The opioid crisis in the United States – fueled by fentanyl, oxycodone and heroin – is getting worse. According to the National Institute for Combating Drug Abuse, there have been more than 72,000 drug overdose deaths in 2017 – and the "biggest increase" has occurred among deaths related to "fentanyl and fentanyl analogues (synthetic opioids)", with a staggering 30,000 overdose deaths. As Mashable reported at the beginning of the year: "As the epidemic grows, traditional recovery options are slow to keep up." Resources such as beds in treatment centers for people living with opioid addiction are exhausted.

"Know that hundreds of thousands of families who have lost someone because of this disease are praying and rooting for you."

"If you suffer from addiction, know that each breath is a new beginning," reads in the darkness. "Know that hundreds of thousands of families who have lost someone because of this disease pray and root for you, know that we believe with all our heart that you can do it and that you will get there It's never too late. "

The obituary also implored people to treat addicts with compassion and respect.

"If you read this with discernment, find out about this disease because it is what it is.This is neither a choice nor a weakness and there is a very good chance that someone around you is struggling with this disease, and that she needs it, deserves your empathy and support.

"If you work in one of the many institutions through which addicts often spend – rehabilitations, hospitals, jails, courts – and treat them with the compassion and respect that they deserve, thank you. a junkie, a thief or a liar in front of a human being in need of help, consider a new job. "

The obituary has become viral on Twitter, and many describe it as "necrological and devastating" and "the most beautiful" obituary ever read.

"If you've ever tried an addict, loved a drug addict, or if you're an addict yourself, you have to read this," wrote a Twitter user.

"We are reassured to know that Maddie is surrounded by light, free from the struggle that haunted her," reads in the last paragraph of the article. "We would have given everything so that she could experience this freedom in this life." Our sorrow for losing her is infinite, and now she too. "

If you or someone you know needs help with an addiction problem, contact the Administration of Addiction and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA) through its National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or findtreatment.samhsa.gov.