2022 Service Award: The Fitzwalters/H.E.A.L. Stop Heroin

PreventEd is honored to present the 2022 Service Award to The Fitzwalters/H.E.A.L. Stop Heroin in appreciation of remarkable and selfless efforts in addressing substance use in their community.

Patti and Ellis Fitzwalter are from North St. Louis County and have been on a journey that started when their son Michael began struggling with mental health issues and substance use disorder. He passed away from a combination of heroin and Xanax at the age of 22.

Since their son’s death in 2014 from an accidental heroin overdose, it has been their mission to share their story with the community in order to educate and spread awareness about the dangers of opioids and other drugs, both legal and illegal. They want to empower others with the knowledge they have gained throughout this journey for the purpose of prevention, early intervention, and harm reduction.

Their vision is to witness the end of the opioid epidemic by breaking the silence and erasing the stigma of addiction.

Learn even more about H.E.A.L Stop Heroin on PrevenTable Season 2 episode, “Blue Heron.”