Mission for Marcus

“Mission For Marcus” is an organization committed to “Stomping Out The Stigma” associated with Substance Use Disorder and underlying Mental Health disease, and dedicated to ending the pain and devastation it brings to families. 

Why?

We lost our son, Marcus, to an accidental overdose on April 5, 2019. While fentanyl was the substance, what truly took him from us was stigma—the guilt, shame, and isolation he felt when he slipped back.

Our mission is not to judge, preach, or place blame. Instead, we share our family’s story to shine a light on the damaging role stigma plays in addiction, recovery, and mental health. Stigma fuels silence, prevents people from seeking help, and makes struggles feel impossible to overcome. By speaking openly, we hope to break the cycle of shame, encourage compassion, and create a world where no one feels alone in their fight for recovery.

Everyone deserves support. Everyone deserves hope. Everyone deserves to be seen.

Thank You,

The Kaplan Family