Drug Abuse Awareness

James Kennedy and his wife Teri Kennedy spruce up the roadside memorial for their son Joseph "Joey" Kennedy, a ritual that brought the father to tears. Photo by Stacie N. Galang

For a brief moment, James Kennedy became overwhelmed. He paused, brought his left hand still holding the artificial daisy to his mouth and squeezed tight his eyes to hold back the tears.

Two years, one month and 22 days after his son Joseph Joey Kennedys body was discovered lifeless off the side of Camino Capistrano in San Juan Capistrano, James Kennedy and his wife Teri Kennedy returned to the roadside memorial this week to replenish the flowers for Easter.

Im telling you this is a nightmare, said the father, whos lived in San Clemente since 2004.

That nightmare is the death of his son to the unrelenting grip of drug abuse and addiction.

My son wanted to get sober, said James Kennedy, a fit, 50-something dad who seems like just about the last guy to tear up. He died from one of the most deadly diseases on the planet.

James Kennedy is one of a growing number of parents joined by loss and grief to combat the prescription drug and heroin abuse that took hold of their children and brought their young lives to an end.

Kim Shimkus, whose son Samuel Shimkus died January 28, 2010 in the familys San Clemente home from an overdose at age 19, is working with Talega Life Church to provide young adults an alternative place to socialize on Friday nights.

Since her son overdosed and died January 8, 2010, Jodi Barber of Laguna Niguel poured her energy into the creation of a 28-minute documentary called Overtaken. The film weaves together real-life accounts of addicts, family members, overdose survivors and drug counselors to snap South Orange County out of complacency about the drug problem.

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Drug Abuse Awareness