TIFTON, Ga. (WALB) - Susan Keene lost her son, Derek Ball, to a drug overdose less than a year ago, but she’s using her pain to help others by starting a Drug Epidemic Memorial Wall in Tifton.

”There’s no shame. It’s a disease. The addicts suffer and they need support,” Keene said.

Keene represents the Drug Epidemic Memorial Wall for the Southwest Georgia region and she says her passion for spreading the word is personal.

”My addict ended in overdose. [Derek Ball’s] disease killed him. I want to save other families from feeling the heartache and it is heartbreaking,” Keene said.

Nearly 2,700 people died in 2023 from drug overdoses in Georgia. Evan Brown, the executive director of Oasis Recovery Community, believes this memorial wall will help humanize those victims.

”They’re people. They are not just addicts. They are people with a disease of addiction. When you hear a number as impressive as that number, maybe it’s not the same as huge poster boards filled with young beautiful lives,” Brown said.

Susan Keene says this memorial is meant to remove the shame and stigma associated with addiction

“I’m not ashamed of my son. I’m not ashamed of how my son died. If people will start being transparent about their loved ones, if addicts are even transparent, I truly believe we will start seeing change in our society,” Keene said.

The Drug Epidemic Memorial Wall will be making its way to Albany on Saturday, Sept. 21 for Recovery in the Streets. If you would like to have your loved one added to this memorial wall, click this link.

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