When his younger brother died from an overdose, Stephen Wood knew he needed to say something. He penned an honest message to those battling addictions as well as those who encouraged it.

 

Stephen's brother, Brandon, struggled with addiction for a long time. He had several attempts at getting clean but was sadly always pulled back into a life of drugs. Brandon's family and friends knew that he was struggling and hoped that he would be able to turn it around.

 

After Brandon's death, Stephen knew that it was time to speak up. Emotions of anger, sadness, and frustration welled up inside him.

 

"This isn't easy but I want to speak directly to Brandon's friends and enablers, and anybody else struggling with addiction," Wood begins.

 

This isn't easy but I want to speak directly to Brandon's friends and enablers, and anybody else struggling with...

Posted by Stephen Wood on Thursday, October 26, 2017

 

Stephen knew that there were those who didn't fight on Brandon's behalf when he was too weak to fight for himself. As the opioid crisis rages in the United States, it's going to take the community to fight.

 

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Those who have been pulled into the life of addiction are often too weak to fight for themselves. They need support. Stephen knew this all too well.

 

credit: Facebook/Stephen Wood

 

Stephen and his new wife were enjoying a quiet dinner at his grandmother's house when he heard his grandmother take a call that would forever change his life. Her tone quickly changed from friendly to despondent. Stephen rushed to the home of his brother's girlfriend. That's when the worst was realized.

 

"I climbed in the ambulance and looked at my little brother lying there, knowing he was gone. Yesterday, I went and planned his funeral and picked out his casket. Today, I had to go look at him again and I bought a suit to wear to his funeral. These things shouldn't have to be done for a 21 year-old."


His post continued to address those battling addiction. He implored that while it was too late for his younger brother, Brandon, there was still hope. Stephen hopes that Brandon's story will encourage others to reevaluate their choices.

 

"It's too late for him, but there is still time for you!" Wood writes. "You think the drugs are only affecting yourself; but what you don't know is how much it impacts everyone around you."


Stephen shared that Brandon's choices didn't just affect him. The family spent nights worrying about him, whether he was safe or not. Brandon often said that he wouldn't be a statistic and that he planned to make a change.

 

credit: Facebook/Stephen Wood

 

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But change didn't come soon enough. Stephen shared about the guilt that he and the family now carried, feeling that perhaps they had not done enough to help Brandon.

 

"So, don't let him die for nothing! Get the help you need and get clean—if not for you, then for your family. You're not invincible, you're time is short; and as much as you don't want to believe it, you're next."

 

 


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