Obituary goes viral for its powerful honesty about opioid addiction

An obituary has gone viral for its poignant candour about the subject's cause of death — opioid addiction.

30-year-old Madelyn Ellen Linsenmeir from Vermont, U.S., died on Oct. 7 from opioid addiction. Her family have shared the story of the devastation wreaked on their lives by opioid addiction in a powerful obit.

"While her death was unexpected, Madelyn suffered from drug addiction, and for years we feared her addiction would claim her life," reads the first paragraph of the obit. "We are grateful that when she died, she was safe and she was with her family."

What's striking about the obituary is the fact her family shared the details of how Linsenmeir's addiction began and how it gradually began to affect her relationships with the people closest to her.

"When she was 16, she moved with her parents from Vermont to Florida to attend a performing arts high school," reads the obituary. "Soon after she tried OxyContin for the first time at a high school party, and so began a relationship with opiates that would dominate the rest of her life."

"It is impossible to capture a person in an obituary, and especially someone whose adult life was largely defined by drug addiction. To some, Maddie was just a junkie — when they saw her addiction, they stopped seeing her. And what a loss for them. Because Maddie was hilarious, and warm, and fearless, and resilient. She could and would talk to anyone, and when you were in her company you wanted to stay. In a system that seems to have hardened itself against addicts and is failing them every day, she befriended and delighted cops, social workers, public defenders and doctors, who advocated for and believed in her 'til the end. She was adored as a daughter, sister, niece, cousin, friend and mother, and being loved by Madelyn was a constantly astonishing gift."

Linsenmeir is survived by her son Ayden, who was born in 2014. The obituary states that Linsenmeir tried "harder and more relentlessly" to become sober than they've "ever seen anyone try at anything."

"But she relapsed and ultimately lost custody of her son, a loss that was unbearable," the obit continues.

"During the past two years especially, her disease brought her to places of incredible darkness, and this darkness compounded on itself, as each unspeakable thing that happened to her and each horrible thing she did in the name of her disease exponentially increased her pain and shame. For 12 days this summer, she was home, and for most of that time she was sober. For those 12 wonderful days, full of swimming and Disney movies and family dinners, we believed as we always did that she would overcome her disease and make the life for herself we knew she deserved. We believed this until the moment she took her last breath. But her addiction stalked her and stole her once again. Though we would have paid any ransom to have her back, any price in the world, this disease would not let her go until she was gone."

The opioid crisis in the U.S. — fuelled by fentanyl, oxycodone, and heroin — is worsening year upon year. Per the National Institute on Drug Abuse, there were over 72,000 drug overdose deaths in 2017 — and the "sharpest increase" occurred in deaths related to "fentanyl and fentanyl analogs (synthetic opioids)", with a staggering 30,000 overdose deaths. As Mashable reported earlier this year: "While the epidemic grows, traditional recovery options are slow to keep pace." Resources like beds in treatment centres for those living with opioid addiction are stretched to breaking point.

"If you yourself are struggling from addiction, know that every breath is a fresh start," reads the obit. "Know that hundreds of thousands of families who have lost someone to this disease are praying and rooting for you. Know that we believe with all our hearts that you can and will make it. It is never too late."

The obituary also implored people to treat those struggling with addiction with compassion and respect.

"If you are reading this with judgment, educate yourself about this disease, because that is what it is. It is not a choice or a weakness. And chances are very good that someone you know is struggling with it, and that person needs and deserves your empathy and support.

"If you work in one of the many institutions through which addicts often pass — rehabs, hospitals, jails, courts — and treat them with the compassion and respect they deserve, thank you. If instead you see a junkie or thief or liar in front of you rather than a human being in need of help, consider a new profession."

The obituary has gone viral on Twitter, with many hailing it "honest and devastating" and "the most beautiful" obituary they've ever read.

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"If you've ever judged an addict, loved an addict, or are an addict yourself *puts hand up* you need to read this," wrote one Twitter user.

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"We take comfort in knowing that Maddie is surrounded by light, free from the struggle that haunted her," reads the closing paragraph of the piece. "We would have given anything for her to experience that freedom in this lifetime. Our grief over losing her is infinite. And now so is she."

If you or someone you know needs help with a substance abuse disorder, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) through its national helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or visit findtreatment.samhsa.gov.