The Serenity Prayer his sister Lauren Hansen gave him while recovering, and a baseball he colored for three hours while high on heroin, are reminders of his former addiction for Michael Hansen.

Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

Former addicts Michael Hansen, left, and Greg Harmon, with Michael's sister Lauren, are trying to raise awareness of heroin abuse in the suburbs.

Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

Former addicts Michael Hansen and Greg Harmon, with Michael's sister Lauren, are trying to raise awareness of heroin abuse in the suburbs.

Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

Former addict Greg Harmon holds up a strip of Suboxone, the medication he still takes to stay off heroin.

Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

Lauren Hansen, with her brother, former addict Michael Hansen, in the background, is trying to raise awareness of heroin abuse in the suburbs.

Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

Jordan Weaver, at his home in Mundelein, talks about his 21-year-old brother, Chris, who died of an overdose on May 21.

George LeClaire | Staff Photographer

Jordan Weaver, at his home in Mundelein, talks about his 21-year-old brother, Chris, who died of an overdose on May 21.

George LeClaire | Staff Photographer

Jordan Weaver, at his home in Mundelein, talks about his 21-year-old brother, Chris, who died of an overdose on May 21.

George LeClaire | Staff Photographer

Take A Stand bracelet worn by Shannon Brody, Lindsey Dulian and Heather Riley, who are trying to raise awareness of heroin abuse in the suburbs.

Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

Shannon Brody and Lindsey Dulian are trying to raise awareness of heroin abuse in the suburbs.

Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

Lindsey Dulian is trying to raise awareness of heroin abuse in the suburbs.

Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

Shannon Brody, Lindsey Dulian and Heather Riley are trying to raise awareness of heroin abuse in the suburbs.

Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

Lindsey Dulian and Heather Riley are trying to raise awareness of heroin abuse in the suburbs.

Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

About this Article

As deaths attributed to heroin use continue to rise in the suburbs, several groups of young adults have organized to try to reverse the trend before they lose more friends to the drug. They're using YouTube videos, creating awareness events and telling their stories to peers. "Your friends are going to do things you don't like and you don't know how to deal with, but our job is to help them anyway," said Jordan Weaver, 24, of Vernon Hills, whose 21-year-old brother Chris died in May of a heroin overdose. "Everybody strays and it's in those darkest times that you need a forever friend."