Mom shares disturbing photos of son 7 months apart to show heart-breaking effects of addiction

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 19.7 million American adults struggled with a sustenance use disorder in 2017. In the same year, 70,200 people died as a result of overdoses.

A mother from Wentzville, Missouri, knows these statistics all too well. Jennifer Salfen-Tracy's son, Cody Bishop, seemed to be set up for a good life after graduating from Wentzville Holt High School in 2011 as a successful student-athlete.

But in the space of seven months, his life would be flipped upside down. And according to Salfen-Tracy, it was all the result of an addiction to heroin and meth.

The mother, who hadn't seen or heard from her son in weeks, hesitantly shared her story on Facebook in an attempt to help other families. She shared two photos of her son taken 7 months apart, which look like two different people.

"I am hesitant on sharing but many people ask how things are going so I feel I should share. I have learned along this path that so many people and families deal with the same heartache but just do not talk about it."

"This is a true issue in our world today that we need to pull together and focus on to fix instead of the government worrying about and spending all their money on throwing each other under the bus."

"The unknown is what makes a person not sleep at night. It is hard to understand how someone who has families and children who love and need them live the life they do."

"I have turned it over to God and pray that he decides he is tired of living like this and wants to come home to get help."

"Through social media, I have come along so many great people that have crossed his path over time through his past rehab. They have a great support team with each other that is amazing and I appreciate those who have reached out trying to help." 

The mother went on to thank those who had provided information on Cody. In an update, she shared the wonderful news that Cody had at last been found.

"I just want to say thank you to those who have talked to him and thank you for all the prayers. This is not just a problem that my family faces but almost everyone knows someone who has a drug/heroin addiction. I pray for strength for those suffering and healing for their families and friends. "

"FYI.... these pictures were taken 7 months apart. That is how fast someone is effected.... let’s get ahold of this issue America and help each other. Thanks again for everyone’s love and support."

Salfen-Tracy's post, which has been shared over 44,000 times, also attracted thousands of comments from people who have experienced similar struggles.

One user wrote: "Having a child that is an addict is awful. Just awful! I never, in a million years, imagined my kid(s) would suffer from addiction."

Another added: "I lost my son to fentanyl. It took him before he could even develop an addiction. I’ve often thought in some way I am lucky that I didn’t have to see him do this to himself. Lucky me."

This article was originally published on October 19, 2019. It has since been updated.