Our world changed forever in the early morning of July 18, 2015. We awoke from a call from our son’s friend telling us that Clay was on his way to the hospital. That night our son accidentally died from a combination of Xanax mixed with alcohol. No one at the party saw it coming. No one thought Clay was in danger. They had no idea combining prescription drugs with alcohol could kill them or their friend. We never thought this could happen to our son or our family. But, when something like this happens, you realize you have two options; to get small and hide behind the circumstances of your child’s death or share your story in the hope that maybe you can make a difference and help others avoid such a tragic accident. Clay's death was an accident that could have been avoided. He died because of what he and his friends didn't know. We do this in memory of Clay and to help others understand the dangers of mixing prescription drugs with alcohol.
But today, the dangers surrounding prescription drugs go far beyond just recreational misuse. Following Clay’s story, we expand the conversation to include the heartbreaking story of Drew Pelusi. Drew’s life was cut short at age 23 after he unknowingly purchased counterfeit Xanax online to help manage his anxiety. Young people turning to the internet or the street to purchase unprescribed prescription drugs has become a dangerous trend today and is taking the lives of young people across the country. For Drew, all it took was one tainted pill to trigger an addiction which, eight months later, ended with his death. We hope with our documentary will send a message to young people that misusing prescription drugs recreationally, or, to self-medicate emotion health is simply a risk not worth taking. We hope by sharing Clay and Drew's story that we can help save lives.
— Geoff, Genny, Ted & Allie Soper
