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Family spends another Christmas without father, son lost to opioid crisis

This year will be Daniel Bolner's second Christmas without his son, who died of a fentanyl overdoes in 2016.

ST. TAMMANY, La. — The St. Tammany Parish coroner is reporting a spike in over dose deaths last year and he's worried that trend will continue. For the families impacted by addiction, the nightmare never ends.

Daniel Bolner is getting the house ready for Christmas. For a third year, his son and his namesake, won't be gathered around the tree with the rest of his family. 

"I get upset with him for not being there and not helping me and not being there for her," Daniel said about his son's daughter, Gracelen. She won't get to spend another holiday or birthday with her dad and Daniel won't get to celebrate with his son.

"I lost my son March 9 of 2016 of an overdose of fentanyl," Daniel said. "I actually found him on his birthday, he was 28 years old."

A growing number of families across Southeast Louisiana are grieving the same loss. St. Tammany Parish Coroner Dr. Charles Preston says overdose deaths are continuing to increase, from 58 deaths in 2016 to 81 deaths in 2017. Jefferson Parish saw 177 drug overdose deaths last year. Dr. Preston says each time you use heroin or fentanyl, you're rolling the dice.

"It is literally a lethal injection and we've had cases where we've come upon the body and the needle is still in the arm and the person is dead," Dr. Preston said.

He's witnessed firsthand what families like the Bolner's go through once they get that call.

Daniel says addiction robbed his son of a lifetime of memories with his daughter. 

"He can't enjoy the beauty of this beautiful child," Daniel said.

It's robbed him of the chance to spend time with his son.

"The grief is a big thing," Daniel said. "Once you lose a child, it's like losing a limb."

Although he's gone, Daniel vows to keep his son's memory alive. And although he's no longer with the family, they say he'll always be there in spirit. 

If you or a loved one needs help:

Metropolitan Human Services District 24-hour crisis line: (504) 826-2675

- Bridge House/Grace House 504-821-7120

- Odyssey House 504-821-9211

- Addiction Recovery Resources Inc. 504-780-2766

- River Oaks Hospital 1-800-366-1740

- Substance Addiction Ministry

- Louisiana Adult & Teen Challenge

- Chasing the Dragon documentary

- Greater New Orleans Drug Demand Reduction Coalition

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