Jeff Stevens, a resident of the town of Whiting in Washington County and the father of Sam Stevens, decided to be open about what others try to keep quiet – that a loved one died of a heroin overdose. He said his son was "just the funniest, sweetest boy, and such a good athlete, but heroin killed him, and I'm not going to try to hide it."

Sam and both of his brothers went into lobstering. All three have been addicted to heroin.

Sam is buried on the shore of Gardner Lake in Whiting at his father's home. The lake was a favorite sport fishing spot for Sam, a lobster boat sternman with many friends whose death from addiction shook the community.

Kristin Seeley holds her son Lucca. His father Sam had returned home from a residential treatment program in Florida to attend the birth of his son, but he died of a heroin overdose two weeks before Lucca was born.

Paul Trovarello, the director of the faith-based addiction recovery program, was asked to perform Sam's funeral service.