This site is dedicated to my only son Tony who died from a Heroin overdose at the young age of 22. When my husband and I found Tony laying on the floor, we knew he was dead; but as a mother you don’t want to hear that. I screamed, begged and pleaded with the paramedics to fix him. But from the minute I comprehended the doctors words, “your son is dead’’ until three years ago, I lived in a state of numbness and unyielding pain.

If Tony had died from natural causes would it have been any easier? There would have been no stigma attached to his death unlike a drug death. There are people who have very little compassion for drug users, because they believe it is self-inflicted. I suppose that can be said for a lot of other addictions.

Addiction – what a powerful word. My son was not born a drug user; nor was yours, so please do not judge them unless you have been through Addiction yourself. We will never understand its power. It is ok to be afraid but remember, take away the Addiction and you have your child back.

Tony loved life, he loved animals, children and people – he was a care free sprit. Football was all he ever talked about as a child and when he grew up he was going to play for Liverpool. He was a rogue but a lovable rogue; and he had friends everywhere. Three weeks after Tony died, we had a phone call from a girl in Slovenia who had met Tony on holidays. A week later we had the most beautiful letter from her telling us how they met. She said her first words to him was; “Do you always smile like that?.’’ She also said ‘‘He was the funniest, kindest person; always laughing and full of life’’. He even talked to her about his addiction and told her that he would meet her in London that October and that he would be clean.

Losing Tony has taught me that nothing in this life is certain and in one split second your whole life is turned upside down and will never be the same again.