In Suffolk County, a group of grieving families are channeling their loss into a poignant call for awareness.

They’ve gathered to create tombstone posters memorializing their children who died from drug overdoses, a crisis claiming lives at alarming rates.

Nationally, the CDC recorded 104,000 overdose deaths in the 12 months ending March 2025.

These families, including Tara and James, who lost their son James, and Lori, who lost her son Nicholas, are preparing to display their memorials at Robert Moses State Park on Sept. 7 before joining the national Trail of Truth event in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 27, where over 3,600 tombstones will honor lives lost to substance use.

Through these handcrafted tributes, the angel moms and dads share stories of their children.

James, a vibrant 19-year-old who battled addiction after a football injury, and Nicholas, a 22-year-old construction worker with a passion for building.

The memorials serve as both a healing process and a stark reminder that addiction can strike anyone.

The Trail of Truth, a national movement, aims to reduce stigma and demand change, with families marching to ensure their loved ones are remembered not just for their deaths, but for their lives.