An Armonk woman is participating in the fight against opioid addiction after she lost her son to addiction last year.

Charlene Decker says there has been a hole in her heart since Dec. 12, 2017, the day she lost her firstborn son. She had just finished teaching a night class when she tried calling William, but he did not pick up the phone.

"I just had this awful feeling in my stomach when I pulled into the house," Decker says.

William Decker was 32 years old when he lost his four-year battle with drug addiction. It started when he was prescribed pain medication after surgery on his shoulder.

Billy was in and out of rehab four times. Decker says there are a number of reasons why rehab didn't help her son. She says insurance companies only pay for 30 days, sometimes drug dealers come into rehab and some clinics don't address the root of the problem, which is mental health.

Decker says Billy inspired her to be an advocate for substance abuse education.