​So many have lost a loved one to an overdose and lived in the devastating and complicated world of loving someone with a substance use disorder.  While it may not have been you personally that lost a loved one, chances are you have a family member, friend, co-worker or acquaintance that lost someone they love due to addiction or mental illness.  

 

Addiction’s reach has spread to almost every corner of our world.  In 2018, the last year of the CDC reports, 67,367 drug overdose deaths occurred in the US.   Read that again, 67,367 deaths due to overdose IN ONE YEAR.  The current situation of our world, such unsettling times due to COVID, social injustice, job loss etc. has seen an increase of overdose rates by 13%. It is estimated that 19.7 million people in the US are living with substance abuse disorders.

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Ryan and Nathan were so many other things besides someone with a substance abuse disorder.  They did not intend to become addicted to prescription medicine.  The chemicals in these drugs change the way the mind works, especially in teenagers and young adults who are not fully done developing.  HIPAA laws prevented us from stopping this nightmare that started with a prescription a doctor prescribed to Ryan and Nathan.   Two unique individuals with different personalities that were given the same prescription drug for “anxiety”.   This started the nightmare of abuse the boys suffered and our family was left screaming for help to a system that refused to listen.

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Our efforts to save Ryan and Nathan were not successful. Our driving force is If we can help save lives of those struggling with a substance abuse disorder, save their families of the pain of living without their loved one than we have succeeded. Our mission of The Ryan and Nathan Hope Foundation is to provide HOPE to those struggling and to end the stigma of mental health and addiction. By sharing our story, we hope to prevent another family from suffering the pain that we live through daily. We want to raise awareness of the impact of substance abuse and mental illness in the community. We want to provide scholarship opportunities for High School students and most importantly we want to work towards changing HIPAA laws so that parents who are covering “adult” children on their medical plans have access to speak with doctors about their medical care. No one is immune from drug abuse and the way it can take over a person’s life.

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Our family had two choices. We could accept what happened to our family and keep our dear sons memory alive. Or We could stand up, share our story, start a foundation to keep Ryan and Nathan’s memory alive with the HOPE to help save others. Thanks to four young men, great friends to Ryan and Nathan that heard our prayers and have been instrumental in starting The Ryan and Nathan Hope Foundation, this journey begins.   

 

Please join us in the battle! Donate now to aid in this fight!

 

With love,

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The Przeslica Family