Derrick Brown

Derrick Anthony Brown, age 30, of Hebron, Kentucky died on Wednesday, September 27, 2017.  Among the many health issues that plagued him, he struggled for years with Alcohol and Drug addiction, which took him, unfortunately, too soon from those that love and care about him.

There have been six overdoses reversed with Narcan a day at St. Elizabeth hospitals since the start of the year.  That compares to about three reversals on an average day in 2015 and 2016 (source: Cincinnati.com).  While Derrick didn't die of an overdose, it was something that his family feared would be his ultimate fate.  They do not believe that he wanted to live this life, but as many of those addicted to Heroin know, the drug became bigger than him.

As a family, we discussed how important it is to spread the message about this epidemic of Heroin instead of simply saying that he died at home. And, while it's painful, and somewhat embarrassing to share with the world, it IS our reality and we hope by being honest that it doesn't have to be yours.  There are people of all walks of life that are living a life of addiction.  That life then becomes the life of those around them that "enable" them unknowingly, because they simply believe that they are helping them.  We drive them to "a friend's house", "take them to the store", "give them money for food"... the list goes on and on.  For the addict, it's an obsession over their next score and unfortunately that means a life of lying and stealing just to exist and hurting the ones that love them. Derrick came from a family of hardworking people, that would have done anything to save him, but unfortunately the demon of Heroin won... AGAIN.

Derrick leaves behind a ten year old daughter, named Ariana, of Erlanger, Kentucky.  There is no doubt that he loved that little girl with all of his heart, but unfortunately he won't be able to take her to father/daughter dances, see her graduate from high school, fall in love for the first time, walk her down the aisle or see her eyes light up when her first child is born.  I'm certain that she will have an upstanding male role model in her life that will be by her side as she grows, but there is nothing like the love of a father.

Derrick is also survived by his mother and stepfather, Kelly and Perry Hughes of Louisville, Kentucky; grandparents, Tom and Sherry (Wright) Holtkamp of Hebron, Kentucky; aunt, Dawn (Angelo) Immordino of Verona, Kentucky; Ariana's mother, Sandra Kelsey Martin of Erlanger, Kentucky; aunt, Debbie (Dallas) Holiday of Burlington, Kentucky; aunt, Donna (Don) Stein of Independence, Kentucky and aunt, Pat (John) Morris of Wilder, Kentucky, in addition to many cousins.

He was preceded in death by his dad, John A. Brown; grandparents, Catherine and Fred Brown; and aunt, Kim (Holtkamp) Johnson.

A memorial open house is scheduled for Saturday, October 7, 2017 from 1:00 pm - 8:00 pm at the home of Derrick's grandparents, Tom and Sherry Holtkamp.  Middendorf-Bullock Funeral Home at 1833 Petersburg Rd., Hebron, KY 41048 will be handling the arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation at any Fifth Third bank in an account that has been set up for his daughter.

If you or someone that you know is struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, please seek help.  There are plenty of resources available in Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati.  Please don't put your family through what our family has been through.  If you are the family member of an addict, please intervene.  Wouldn't you rather lose a relationship with that person than lose them to addiction?  No one should have to bury their 30 year old son or daughter, grandchild, mother or father, niece or nephew.