[Loop1]

A 21-year-old man named C.B. from Portland, Oregon died March 17th, 2010, St. Patrick’s Day, from an overdose of heroin and prescription drugs.

From a news article:

Two years ago, former Grants Pass High School student C.B., 21, was doing well at Portland State University. But he was doing terribly with his heroin addiction.

Some of his friends knew he used, but his mother didn't.

"He often spoke with contempt of the heroin addicts that he encountered in his life in Portland," said C.B.’s mother R.P. “He did things I would have thought incompatible with that kind of problem."

C.B. rode his bicycle all over the city. He maintained a five-year relationship with his girlfriend, who didn't use drugs.

Then came the day officers came to R.P.’s office with the news her son had died of an overdose. Prescription drugs and heroin were found in his system.

"We had no idea he was using heroin or had ever used it," R.P. said. "None of his friends who knew saw fit to tell us."

"Piecing together the contents of his room and things we have now been told, it is clear that it had already affected his life terribly," she continued. "It had become the focus of his life, had impacted his relationships and made him financially desperate."

Since that day in March 2010, R.P. has spoken out publicly at a local drug abuse forum and before the Oregon Legislature, in support of a measure to force repeat heroin abusers into treatment.

R.P. remembers her son as bright, funny and talented.

"He also was very curious, and fascinated with artists and musicians who used heavy drugs, even though he was well informed of the dangers," she said.

Shortly after turning 18, C.B. was cited for DUII and drug possession. He collapsed at a rave party during a trip to California and was hospitalized. Afterward, he was ordered into drug and alcohol education classes.

While in Portland, C.B. often called his mother to say he was headed to treatment. "I think he meant to reassure me," she said. She believes he began using prescription drugs shortly after turning 18, then switched to heroin.

"We now suspect that he researched symptoms to present to a doctor to be prescribed drugs that he wanted," she said. "When he died, his Portland apartment was full of prescription pills."

In an effort to help others avoid such tragedy, R.P. earlier this year testified before the Legislature, in support of a measure that would allow a person arrested a third time for heroin possession to be considered mentally ill and possibly be forced into treatment.

The measure, which never came to a vote during the last legislative session, was championed by a Multnomah County prosecutor, who compiled a binder of photographs of 130 people who died of heroin overdoses in Multnomah County.

One of the pictures is of R.P.’s son, C.B.

"The pain of his senseless, unnecessary loss is impossible to describe and it will never heal," R.P. said. "It is my constant companion."

[soja]

Seeing things like this make me appreciate my life so much more, having been thru the same kinds of struggles and battles with that sweet, sweet golden brown and other demons.

Nice post, love the stories.

[Padraig Flaherty]

Depression can be just as lethal as any potent narcotic, and/or weapon, etc.

[Spiffyfable]

That's some tough stuff

[fendi87]

White trash leprechaun day yipee

[LERK]

I found my childhood friend of 30 year plus years dead of an overdose September 19th 2018 and his dead and bloated blue face will be with me the rest of my life.

I've been clean since 2011 and he'd been clean over 12 years but he kept talking about killing himself with that one big shot and he was successful.

[flailingmeatmech]

the youtube channel "soft white underbelly" has many incredible and tragic interviews with addicts on skid row. opiates are so fuckin vicious. i really wish we did more to treat and prevent addiction in this country

[OxVortex]

The feeling of "captivity" drives all sorts of addictions and self destructive habits.

[OxVortex]

Can definitely relate to this..
"It had become the focus of his life, had impacted his relationships and made him financially desperate."

[jintsy]

One positive is that if they had found he had turned green they wouldn't be able to pinch his corpse.