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A letter from Stephanie Marquesanofounder Harris’s project.
Harris Blake Marquesano was my son. He was also a brother, grandson, nephew, cousin and friend – a very loving and bright young man whose energy, humor and passion touched by all who knew him. At just 19, he died of an accidental overdose, a devastating loss to our family, friends, and community. Harris’s sister, JensynOnly a higher school when she died, a loss that shaped her life in ways that no young person should have to face. My husband, Callcarries a quiet but intense grief that a father can only know. Harris’s absence is felt in the everyday moments and mile milestones – reminders of the love we shared and the future that should have been.
His death, like the death of so many others, was rooted in a battle that too few people really understand: disorders that coincide.
When Harris first entered his inpatient rehabilitation program, we heard the term disorders that coincide for the first time. It was a revelation. We realized that his battles with anxiety disorder, ADHD, and the use of substances were not separate issues – they were deeply linked. Like so many others, Harris turned to substances to control the pain and difficulties that he could not put in words. It was not about poor choices or moral failures – it was about trying to survive pain that felt intolerable.
We believed in the promise of recovery. Over the last and half of his life, Harris entered the program after a program, all claiming expertise in joint disorders. But what we came across was heartbreaking: a system that largely failed to fulfill its promises.
It’s not just a private battle – it’s a public health crisis. More than 21 million Americans live with it, and while the causes and symptoms may vary, the links between mental health challenges and substance misuse are generally. It touches everything: schools, workplaces, the justice system and healthcare. It affects people of all ages, ethnicity, gender and socio -economic background. Mental health challenges often emerge early, leading young people to turn to substances as a way for self-medication. By the time the need for help becomes apparent, families are being left in an emergency and individuals are facing systems that fail to treat both conditions together.
But there is hope. Prevention begins with understanding that mental health challenges and substance use issues are interlinked. Schools, communities and the healthcare system must prioritize awareness and early intervention to break the stigma and create pathways to care.
Launching the Harris project is my way of ensuring that Harris’s story has meaning. Through prevention, integrated treatment and support for families, we can break the cycle of co-ending disorders.
Harris’s favorite artists – like Mac Miller and Avic – were public figures facing similar battles and died tragically. By shining light on co-ordinating disorders, we can honor all the lost lives and create a future where no one has to fight alone, whether they are teenagers from Westchester County, New York, or a star on the world stage.
That’s why I’m proud to be a partner with Weekly US As they look another on stories about the past and add new co -text, interviews and information to tell the whole story – and change the way we all talk about the challenges of mental health and substance misuse.
To buy The missing matter For $ 8.99 go to https://magazineshop.us/harrisproject.
If you or someone you know are struggling with mental health and/or using substances, you are not alone. Seek immediate intervention – call 911 for medical attention; 988 for the Suicide and Lifeline Emergency; or 1-800-662-Help for the Samhsa (Administration of Substance Abuse Services and Mental Health Services) National Helpline. Carrying Naloxone (Narcan) can help pervert an opioid overdose.
