Midland family speaks out on drug prevention after losing daughter to addiction

Kirby Collier

One Midland family is speaking out after losing their daughter to drug and alcohol addiction, Kirby Collier, 22, a Midland High School graduate but passed away in 2016.  “I want people to look at that picture of Kirby and realize that was a heroin addict,” said Kim Collier.

“We thought she was going to go to nursing school to have this amazing future ahead of her,” said Kim Collier. “I think she truly wanted to do that.”  It wasn’t til later, Kirby would fall into the hands of addiction. She began drinking, smoking marijuana and taking Xanax during her freshman year of high school. She was sent to seek treatment over the years to get clean. She would do well, but would relapse from rehab facility to the next.

Her family learned Kirby began using meth and heroin. She went to Florida to another rehab facility where she completed a 30-step program and was doing well, until her family learned the tragic news of Kirby passing away from heroin overdose.

“Up until we got that phone call, I was hopeful for recovery,” said Kim. “I lost my precious child. I’m broken but I have a passion to educate others so no other mother, father, sister or brother has to go through this.”  It was many years where it wasn’t only Kirby, but her family also struggled to help stop Kirby’s addiction.

About TCYSAPC

Travis County Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition
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