Homer Glen dad: My son's heroin death won't be in vain

About 6:30 every morning, Brian Kirk would call his 18-year-old son Matt, a senior at Lockport Township High School, to make sure he was awake.

[Chan Ho]

I am so, so sorry for your loss.

[kevindaly]

I read this article in The Herald earlier in the day and I have to say it struck a nerve for me. I have a brother 2 years older than Matt and him and all of his friends had easy access to drugs at Sandburg, too.

The main difference between when he went and I went (I'm ten years older) is that drugs to us were alcohol, weed, and cigarettes. Heroin? Cocaine? Crack? That shit would have scared the crap out of me if I ever saw it. WTF are these kids thinking?

With all that said, 20-some drug related deaths in the past year (forgive me if I'm misrepresenting statistics I read,) in a relatively small community is horrible. There's something bigger going on at LTHS and at home with these kids and I hope somebody's out there looking for answers.

[Lockport Opinion]

kevindaly wrote:

I read this article in The Herald earlier in the day and I have to say it struck a nerve for me. I have a brother 2 years older than Matt and him and all of his friends had easy access to drugs at Sandburg, too.
The main difference between when he went and I went (I'm ten years older) is that drugs to us were alcohol, weed, and cigarettes. Heroin? Cocaine? Crack? That shit would have scared the crap out of me if I ever saw it. WTF are these kids thinking?
With all that said, 20-some drug related deaths in the past year (forgive me if I'm misrepresenting statistics I read,) in a relatively small community is horrible. There's something bigger going on at LTHS and at home with these kids and I hope somebody's out there looking for answers.

Your numbers are correct, but they are not just for LTHS or our area, they are for all of Will County. Although this doesn't make the statistics any better, this problem is not isolated to our towns.

I still have a problem with the fact that the school did not issue any notices to the parents. They send out emails, they leave messages on our home phones and they send us letters. Why couldn't they tell the parents that there was a heroin problem in our schoool?

There was also not enough press coverage on this issue until this week.

I have children at the school and they have not heard of heroin being available. They all know where to get weed, but heroin was not a common topic.

[unknown]

those goddamn kids need to get searched every freaking day at that high school, i graduated two years ago and i know 5 people who have died from drug overdoses and it was all after i graduated and they were still there. it is absolutely ridiculous that two of them were from heroin. everyone i USE to hang out with is hooked. i wish i could just turn them into the police

[Lockport Opinion]

unknown wrote:

those goddamn kids need to get searched every freaking day at that high school, i graduated two years ago and i know 5 people who have died from drug overdoses and it was all after i graduated and they were still there. it is absolutely ridiculous that two of them were from heroin. everyone i USE to hang out with is hooked. i wish i could just turn them into the police

If you are really worried, that is EXACTLY what you will do. Turn them in or live with your conscious when they are the next ones to die. At a minimum, you must tell their parents. They need your HELP!

[Trout]

unknown wrote:

those goddamn kids need to get searched every freaking day at that high school, i graduated two years ago and i know 5 people who have died from drug overdoses and it was all after i graduated and they were still there. it is absolutely ridiculous that two of them were from heroin. everyone i USE to hang out with is hooked. i wish i could just turn them into the police

YOU CAN JUST TURN THEM INTO THE POLICE. YOU MORON.

If you know so many people who are from it, if you were really a good friend, you would do it. Don't make another thoughtless post, please.

[anonymous]

Is the name of this article *supposed* to be a sick pun, or is that just somebody's foot in their mouth?

[Chan Ho]

anonymous wrote:

Is the name of this article *supposed* to be a sick pun, or is that just somebody's foot in their mouth?

Click the link and read the story before posting. This was a very serious and sad story, and I really hope that young man's father has found a small shred of peace.

[Someone who cares]

I tried to view the article but wasn't allowed to. Do I have to go to the library now to find it or can I still find it on the internet?

[John G]

Matt was a good friend of mine. The ONLY good thing about him passing from this is that his father is actually making a difference in the community trying to fix the problem. There were too many kids who died before him whos parents did little to nothing about it. Mr. Kirk, if you read this, thank you.

[Chan Ho]

John G wrote:

Matt was a good friend of mine. The ONLY good thing about him passing from this is that his father is actually making a difference in the community trying to fix the problem. There were too many kids who died before him whos parents did little to nothing about it. Mr. Kirk, if you read this, thank you.

I am very sorry for your loss. I have sons that are close in age to this young man, and I pray every day they make smart, thoughtful choices every day. As most parents know, there comes a point in time when our children cease to be children and grow into young adults, making most of their own choices for themselves. We can only hope that we had enough of a positive impact on them that they think before they act, and realize the gravity of every choice they make, no matter how great or small. God bless his Dad, I pray the weight of his grief will lessen over time. He and his family are in my thoughts, still.

[Brian Kirk]

John G wrote:

Matt was a good friend of mine. The ONLY good thing about him passing from this is that his father is actually making a difference in the community trying to fix the problem. There were too many kids who died before him whos parents did little to nothing about it. Mr. Kirk, if you read this, thank you.

John G.,
Thank you for your kindness & thoughtful words. I'm trying to make a difference in our community by bringing this terrible addiction to the forefront. There is a huge stigma attached to this addiction for the parents & children that are left behind. EVERYONE needs to get involved no matter how painful or what stigma is attached to it. Letting parents know what their kids are doing is the BEST thing you can do for a FRIEND. That is a true friend, even if they won't talk to you again. Later in life they will recognize who were their true friends. Please feel free to view Matthew's facebook page.(RIP Matthew R. Kirk) John, please never forget my son. Brian Kirk

[Brian Kirk]

Chan Ho wrote:

<quoted text>I am very sorry for your loss. I have sons that are close in age to this young man, and I pray every day they make smart, thoughtful choices every day. As most parents know, there comes a point in time when our children cease to be children and grow into young adults, making most of their own choices for themselves. We can only hope that we had enough of a positive impact on them that they think before they act, and realize the gravity of every choice they make, no matter how great or small. God bless his Dad, I pray the weight of his grief will lessen over time. He and his family are in my thoughts, still.

Chan Ho,
Thank You. It is so very good to know how many people out there really do care. Your words of wisdom are so true today. The pressure & stress on everyday life in a teenagers life is overwhelming. Keep your children close to you & know all their friends & what their up to at all times. Keep the cell phones to a limited use, watch what their doing on the computers, & monitor where their at with the cars. Pay particular attention to what's going on in their High Schools.(This is where most of the drugs are being exchanged)God Bless You & your family Chan Ho.
Brian Kirk

[mariea333]

Trout wrote:

Is this "Brian Kirk" who I think it is? I find it hard to believe that so many "random" people come to this site from Chicago, and are so willing to pitch in to a small community because one kid croaked from a drug overdose.
Brian Kirk/ ollie, you are a sick f_ck for making a joke out of this topic. If you are actually going to do something, do something. Don't be a f_cking Topix half-ass hero, you jagbag.

If you took the time to read the article, or even the first sentence, you would note that Brian's son passed away from a drug overdose. He is not making a joke of this topic: on the contrary, he is one of the few people that is actually doing something about the heroin epidemic that has taken over not only Homer Glen, but every community in the United States. There have been over 20 drug related deaths in Will county alone this year, and at least he is getting the word out to the schools and newspapers. It does not do anyone any good to call someone a foul name, especially while they are greiving over a loved one, your ignoranace is clear.

[Grow Up]

Trout wrote:

<quoted text>
Oh right.... what was I thinking... Anyone who signs up here with the name "Brian Kirk," is without a doubt the "Brian Kirk," mentioned in the article.
For now i have every reason to be skeptical about the poster, and I will continue to do so. If you actually take the time to review this website, instead of making 1 comment, you would see how many jokesters we have. One idiot here is going on 70 screenames, which I believe, you are that very same idiot.
All these people just showing up from a city of how many millions, to comment on a small suburb (if you can even call it that) with a population below 30,000. Right. Lockport headlines the tribune and the sun-times every day...GTFO, you POS.

Grow up.

[mariea333]

Trout wrote:

<quoted text>
Oh right.... what was I thinking... Anyone who signs up here with the name "Brian Kirk," is without a doubt the "Brian Kirk," mentioned in the article.
For now i have every reason to be skeptical about the poster, and I will continue to do so. If you actually take the time to review this website, instead of making 1 comment, you would see how many jokesters we have. One idiot here is going on 70 screenames, which I believe, you are that very same idiot.
All these people just showing up from a city of how many millions, to comment on a small suburb (if you can even call it that) with a population below 30,000. Right. Lockport headlines the tribune and the sun-times every day...GTFO, you POS.

Just for the record, I know Brian, and Matt, who was only 18 years old when he passed away on April 3rd of this year. Brian's comments on this sight are clearly not of the joking kind. Along with his family, I witnessed the toll a death of a child takes on all of us, and if you are not sure who is writing these heartfelt comments, you should reserve judgement. Obviously, you don't have a child in school, or you would be as afraid as most of the parents are of the drug problem in the communities. His comments are of relevance, where your comments only hurt and serve no purpose. What's your point?

[Brian Kirk]

Trout wrote:

Is this "Brian Kirk" who I think it is? I find it hard to believe that so many "random" people come to this site from Chicago, and are so willing to pitch in to a small community because one kid croaked from a drug overdose.
Brian Kirk/ ollie, you are a sick f_ck for making a joke out of this topic. If you are actually going to do something, do something. Don't be a f_cking Topix half-ass hero, you jagbag.

The one kid "THAT CROAKED FROM A DRUG OVERDOSE" happened to be my son! Your one of the prob;ems with our society! Twenty five kids have died from drug overdosesin Will County so far this year! Four or five from Homer Glen alone! Wake up child!!!!!!!!!!

[mariea333]

Trout wrote:

<quoted text>
A-ha. Mmm-hmmm. Ahhh.... I get it.... You are a common sense expert....
Who says I don't know anything about this family?
I will not reserve any judgement on who is behind the postings. I have no reason this guy is the father. Are you remotely aware of the trolling that goes on from a CHICAGO ISP address? Are you that person? It is getting very old around here, and usually we let it slide. However, this time, I AM F_CKING P_SSED because now you have gone from impersonating the personalities of this website under phony screenames, and now you are impersonating a person who has suffered a serious loss. I AM IN NO WAY AFRAID TO CALL YOU OUT ON IT. What you are doing is 100% WRONG.
The understanding of a personal loss of a child is not something that needs to be discussed here. No one on this site is going to let you f_cks from Chicago get your attention fill off of impersonating a man who just lost his son. If you had visited this site one time prior to today, which you damn well have, under an estimate of 70 different screenames, you would understand how outrageous these postings are.
I am sick of it, but now I am p_ssed because you are stealing the identity of a man who suffered a loss today.
Funny how both of you created accounts on Topix today, too. Brian Kirk, and some random friend named Maria.
Whether you are one person, or multiple. The poster(s) from Chicago are sick f_cking puppies, and this thread will forever serve as the evidence I need to prove how low ollie, lockport resident, Why So serious, etc. will sink for a laugh.

If you knew anything about this family, you would not be posting in such a foul manner. Brian spoke at one school already, with another family that has lost their child due to overdose. What better forum, then to post on Lockport's and Homer Glen's site. That is where the article originated from, and that is where Matt went to school.

[ollie]

Hi Trout, you LIAR and PHONY. Am I surprised that you are on a thread about a dead young person and you are cursing, bullying and acting the troll, all the while picking at those who post from Chicago ISPs? Nope cause that's the kind of LOSER that you are, arguing about someone's grief?

I thought you were a major pig for posting your claims about serving in the military http://www.topix.com/forum/city/lockport-il/T...
but now you are here (*note: you won't post on the threads that I frequent, you know the threads where I ask you to retract your LIES, post an apology to the honorable men and women who have served, or prove your service) bothering good people who are trying to spread an important message.

Go away you LOSER. LIAR. TROLL.

[ollie]

Brian Kirk wrote:

<quoted text>
The one kid "THAT CROAKED FROM A DRUG OVERDOSE" happened to be my son! Your one of the prob;ems with our society! Twenty five kids have died from drug overdosesin Will County so far this year! Four or five from Homer Glen alone! Wake up child!!!!!!!!!!

Damn, you're a bigger idiot than previous thought. Sign up yesterday as this Dad and post about his son. There is compassion for that family, but not from you loser.

ollie from Chicago is nothing more than a "LIAR" folks. He claims his family served in Vietnam but has offered no proof to back up his claim. He is also a self-admitted pedophile. Trout has posted the link of Lockport sex offenders. Time to start narrowing it down.

Nothing but an inbred LIAR.

Sincerely,

The real ollie from Lockport