John “Mac” Mackenzie Wessels, 23, a bright, gentle son, most recently of Pasadena, CA passed away on January 13, 2017 of a drug overdose. Mac, the only child of Debbie and Michael Wessels, was raised in the loving and fun “village” of High Banks in Salisbury, Maryland.
This obituary is shared with the hope that others will read it and have more insight into the mental health crisis our children face and it’s direct relationship to the disease of addiction.
Mac was a solid student and a happy kid. With his seemingly endless positive traits, he had the potential to be anything from a captivating politician to a brilliant engineer, but addictive behaviors began to creep into Mac’s life before leaving for college. Recognizing his struggles and strife, the family engaged in counseling with the hope to provide Mac with a toolbox for life.
He graduated from The Salisbury School in 2011 and received the Presidential Scholarship to attend Rollins College, Winter Park, FL. He left for college in fall but his anxiety and depression plus his addiction impeded his education. From there, the next four years were a blur of drug rehab facilities, moments of recovery, followed by relapses..
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