Anthony's Way Foundation

SAY HIS NAME , Anthony Michael DeMaria-Jones

I am the son who died from an overdose.

It breaks my heart, but I will say it.

I was an addict.

I was, and am, also a valuable human being.

Do not turn away from me.

I am not jinxed. It is not contagious. My presence and influence are no danger to you or yours.

Do not judge me.

This did not happen because I caused it, deserved it, or failed to stop it. I got pulled into something beyond my control, and I couldn’t pull out. I do not know why, and neither do you.

Do not tell me I should have tried harder.

You have no idea of my struggle. You have no idea of my desire. You have no idea how I fought my own body, my own mind, my own brain, my own demons to walk away and be free of drugs. A fallen warrior is still a warrior.

Do not judge my family.

My family was there for me throughout my struggle, and remain loyal to me now. They did not ‘raise me wrong’ or ‘fail to save me.’ My failure to get clean was not a lack of love for them or from them. They did what they could, often after everyone else had given up on me. I would not have stayed alive as long as I did without them.

Do not pity me.

I struggled, and watched my family struggle alongside me. I did not go down without a fierce struggle, and I did not go down alone. My legacy is safe in the hands of those who fought for me with a loyalty and a fierceness that most so-called ‘normal’ kids will never know,

Do not pity my family.

My family does not need or deserve pity. They deserve respect and support, but many will not offer that to them because of my addiction. Anyone who knows will understand the strength and character my family showed by staying by my side.

Do not question me.

I did the best I could. I do not know if things would have been different if I had done certain things differently or had different friends, and neither do you. If you have not lived it, you can never understand the intensity of my efforts. Losing the battle with addiction is not a reflection of my desire to win or the strength I used to fight it. Addiction is a mightier enemy than you can ever know.

Do not blame me.

If you have not lived through this, you are not qualified to tell me why I am an addict, why I continued to return to the drugs, or why I could not quit. Your opinion would be based on nothing but your own ideas. I lived this struggle, and I could not answer those questions any more than a cancer patient could tell you why they developed cancer or why it could not be cured. Addiction is a physical disease as much as cancer or dementia.

Do not tell me you understand.

There are very few people in my life who can say they understand my struggle or the struggle of my loved ones. Be grateful you cannot. There is only one way to understand, and you do not want to go there.

Do not think that you are more loving/ loved/stronger than I was.

I loved my mother, and she loved me. I loved my brother ,and he loved me. My father loved me,and I loved him ,they were my life. This is not a problem which can be solved by love. Love and addiction are not connected. You would have to live our struggle to ever understand the love and the effort that were involved on all sides.

Do not congratulate yourself and your family as being better than me or mine.

If you and your family have avoided the demon of addiction, you are lucky. Addiction can happen to anyone, anywhere, any time. It is found in broken homes and happy ones. It is found in the ghetto and in palaces. It victimizes the smart, the ignorant, the strong, the weak, the brave and the timid. It affects male and female, young and old, Black, White, Latino and Asian. Addiction , like cancer, chooses its victims blindly and from all walks of life.

I am the the son who died from an overdose.

I am a loved and valuable human being.

Every overdose is someone's child.

The Origin of Anthony's Way Foundation:

A Story of Love and Purpose

The journey of Anthony's Way Foundation is rooted in profound personal loss, unwavering love, and a heartfelt commitment to making a difference. The foundation was established in 2015 ,to honor the memory of Anthony, a beloved son and father, whose life was tragically cut short. Driven by grief but inspired by Anthony's spirit, his Mother sought to create something meaningful that would carry forward his legacy.

Anthony was a bright, compassionate individual who touched the lives of many with his kindness and generosity. However, like many others, he struggled with substance use disorder, a battle that ultimately claimed his life. With his passing and the pain of his absence, is as acute as ever, but so too is the determination to transform that pain into positive action.

From this wellspring of love and loss, Anthony's Way Foundation was born. The foundation's mission is to support individuals and families affected by substance use disorder, providing them with the resources, care, and compassion that Anthony himself would have cherished. The foundation aims to create a world where no one feels alone in their struggle, where every person has access to the support they need to find hope and healing.

Over the years, Anthony's Way Foundation has grown from a small, local initiative into a beacon of hope for many. The foundation's programs are designed to offer comprehensive support, including harm reduction services, transitional housing, and community outreach. By fostering strong partnerships with other organizations and continually expanding its services, the foundation strives to meet the diverse needs of those it serves.

Anthony's legacy lives on through the foundation's work. Each life touched, each family supported, and each individual helped to find their path to recovery is a testament to Anthony's enduring impact.
His story is a reminder of the importance of empathy, community, and unwavering dedication to making the world a better place for those struggling with substance use disorder.

As Anthony's Way Foundation continues its mission, it remains a tribute to a remarkable individual whose life, though brief, continues to inspire and drive meaningful change. Through this work, Anthony's memory is kept alive, and his spirit continues to light the way for many others on their journey to recovery with love and hope.

We are part of the York County Reentry program at the York County Prison. (ROC) Trying to assist individuals before they re-enter the community.

EVERYONE is worthy of a second chance!!!

https://chng.it/tKk4dn4dSb

Can you spare a minute to help this campaign?

Thank you Anthony's Way Foundation for the Donation to Dante’s Angel Tree!

We have FREE Fentanyl test strips and xylazine test strips (tranq) .These will test He**in for fentanyl or Xylazine this is to make the drug user aware of what is in their supply , First and foremost to keep them alive.
We also always have Narcan. If you know some one or you are using He**in reach out to us,we will make sure you get these life saving tools and it's FREE.
No questions asked. Let's stay ALIVE!!!

https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/john-fetterman-cory-booker-fentanyl-crisis-20230928.html

Booker, Fetterman: The war on drugs didn't work. We need a fresh approach to address the fentanyl crisis. As former city mayors, we know firsthand how drugs can devastate neighborhoods and cause ripple effects that can cripple entire communities. People deserve evidenced-based solutions that work.

To the one who’s wearing long sleeves in the summer. To the one who spends way too many hours in the bathroom.
To the one that won’t ever put their purse down because there is paraphernalia in there.
To the one who is looking at the mess they are in and thinking there is no coming back from this.
To the one who thinks they are too broken.
To the one who is plotting how to get money.
To the one who has a bag of clothes and no place to stay.
To the one who thinks it isn’t too bad. To the one who is getting high on their lunch break.
To the one who's family won’t talk to you. To the one that’s caught charges and is dreading their day in court. To the one who is withdrawing.
To the one who is about to meet their drug dealer. To the one who hasn’t seen their kids for months. To the one who’s only gifts they have to give for Christmas are stolen. To the one that thinks they would be better off dead...

I speak up for YOU.

Because I see YOU.
God forgives you.
You can be sober.
You can be happy.
You can be successful.
You can be free.
You can be healthy.
You can love yourself.
Others can love you.
You matter.
Your life matters.
You are beautifully and wonderfully made.
You are not alone.

Please message us if you need someone to talk to or need help .

You can report abuse in an addiction treatment facility federally to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). You can do this by calling 1-877-662-HELP (4357) or by visiting the SAMHSA website.

When you report abuse to SAMHSA, you will be asked to provide some basic information, such as:

The name of the addiction treatment facility where the abuse occurred
The date and time of the abuse
A description of the abuse
Your name and contact information (optional)
SAMHSA will investigate your complaint and take appropriate action. This may include contacting the addiction treatment facility, conducting an onsite investigation, or taking disciplinary action against the facility.

It is important to note that you may be required to provide your name and contact information when you report abuse to SAMHSA. However, you can choose to remain anonymous if you wish.

Here are some additional resources for reporting abuse in addiction treatment facilities federally:

Office of the Inspector General (OIG): The OIG is responsible for investigating and preventing fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs. You can report abuse in addiction treatment facilities to the OIG by visiting their website or calling 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477).

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS): The HHS is responsible for administering many federal programs that provide services to people with substance abuse disorders. You can report abuse in addiction treatment facilities to the HHS by visiting their website or calling 1-800-422-4453.

Department of Justice (DOJ): The DOJ is responsible for enforcing federal laws, including laws that protect people from abuse in addiction treatment facilities. You can report abuse in addiction treatment facilities to the DOJ by visiting their website or calling 1-800-843-5678.

Naloxone or NARCAN will reverses an opioid overdose. Narcan works by blocking the effects of opiates on the brain and by restoring breathing.
Narcan will only work if a person has opiates in their system.
Please contact us if you need Narcan , it's Free!
Let's help someone stay alive !

We Have some Exciting News, Coming Soon!!!
We are Growing Again !

That's a wrap for our first Annual Camp Resilience ! It Rained but we had fun anyway. A great time was had by everyone.We are Looking Forward to next year!! Thank you to our Sponsors .

Rice Family Foundation
Utz
Elwood and Debra McManus
Bright Life Recovery
Hanover Moose

It rained a little today but we stayed busy , We Tie-dyed shirts ,had a wagon ride sq**rt gun battle in the park , and pudding eating contest.

Our Yellowstone Camp , We are having a Great time , It's a Hit for sure ..

“I want to let somebody know out there that things are obtainable and you can change your life,” Marsteller said Saturday. “It’s hard for me to say, hard for me to tell the full story, but I don’t know many people that were addicted to oxy and fentanyl and he**in and were able to turn around and go make the World Team.

“I always say, I wish if somebody out there would have been able to share that story, maybe I would have been able to stop sooner. Maybe I would have known it was obtainable sooner, (be able to) change it around sooner. So that being said, I want that for somebody else. I want somebody to know, no matter what you go through, it’s obtainable at all levels of life.”

York County's Chance Marsteller makes USA wrestling world team with signature win The former Kennard-Dale superstar will represent the United States at the world championships this September.

We were asked to speak after the Documentary "Tipping the Pain Scale"
Addiction is driven By different aspects of behavior health especially, "PAIN" Emotional pain, Physical Pain, Trauma, PTSD .
Great discussion and Documentary on how to help others that experience this kind of pain that leads to Addiction.

Giving back to anyone in need, And these seniors needed our help.

Local organizations help seniors hold monthly card night after FOX43 investigation | FOX43 Finds Out After a FOX43 Finds Out report, several community organizations pitch in to help seniors in McSherrytown host their monthly card night.

A Big Thank you to McSherrystown Moose , Motorcycle Club and Another wonderful Mom who has thought of us every year for the last 5 years!
Everything we get in, goes 100% to those impacted by addiction or those still suffering.We are humbly, Thankful for all who believe in us to help those still suffering .

For those Moms that have lost a child.

Anthony's Way Foundation was asked to speak about our Children's Camp on Good Day PA!! What a Great experience! Our Camp is almost full!!

We have had such positive feedback, We are hoping this will be an annual event

Series 1of 6 on Addiction