Reply #31: Three immediately come to mind

[Danmel]

Someone I went to college with was killed in a drunk driving accident. Both he and the driver were quite tanked and he was backed over by his friend. I suspect had he not been plastered, he'd not have chosen to stand right behind the car as it was backing up. His name was Jerry and he was 22.

Another person I went to college with OD'd. Her name was Alita. She was a beautiful girl, she had the most gorgeous complexion, and I have to tell you that is the one think you just cannot fake. She was a gymnast too. She hooked up with this asshole guy- I still remember him so well- he was VERY controlling. I had gone to see The Who at Madison Square Garden in 1979 and she asked me if I could pick up a button for her (one of the local radio stations used to hand out event buttons at concerts) I picked one up for her and went to give it to her and found out she had died of an OD the day before. Such a total and complete waste- she was a special person. It's been 26 years and I still think of her often. I wonder what happened to her boyfriend and if he even cared.

My piano teachers son also died of an OD. HIs name was Lou. I knew him sort of peripherally but I was pretty friendly with his sister. Both of them were devastated and were never the same again.

If you want to count tobacco as a drug- well at least 15 or 20, mostly parents of friends, co workers etc. I'm 44 so the smoking deaths of my contemporaries haven't started yet, but unfortunately, will likely start pretty soon.