WESTMORELAND COUNTY, Pa. — A Westmoreland County couple addressed their son’s heroin overdose in his obituary, hoping to raise awareness and save someone else’s life.
David Hill’s life had been saved several times by paramedics with Narcan, an antidote that reverses the effects of a heroin overdose. Hill’s addiction, however, overpowered him last week, killing him.%
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"The only reason I was able to find him, I could hear him gasping for air, for life and that's when I called 911," said Robert Hill, David’s father.
David Hill, 26, struggled with his heroin addiction for almost a decade.
"This is no different than Vietnam, other than it’s on this ground--this country--but someone's got to put a stop to it and I hope something comes of David's death," said Robert Hill.
David’s family wrote in his obituary that he died from his addiction and instead of sending flowers, they asked for donations to be made to the North Huntingdon Rescue 8.
"This is a real thing, it's a real problem, we have to address it and we can stop folks from dying," said Shane Spielvogle, North Huntingdon EMS Rescue.
David’s family told Channel 11 they felt like the system had failed David because he was getting buried in minor criminal offenses that they say only encouraged him to use heroin more. They’re hoping to see more change from the law to the dealers on the streets.