“Harris Marquesano was a real person, a loving son, brother, relative, and friend. His loss still reverberates ten years after his death by accidental overdose at the age of 19.
Harris had co-occurring disorders, and he was not alone. One in two people with substance use issues also face mental health challenges; and more than 20 million people in the US have co-occurring disorders. We tried everything we could to win this battle, but the system failed him – and us.
Prevention programs didn’t focus on this link, mental health providers didn't highlight the increased risks, and treatment models lacked integrated care, relying on outdated models. That's why we founded the harris project - to save lives and improve outcomes, from prevention to treatment to sustainable recovery. Together, we bring co-occurring disorders out of the shadows and into the light.”
-Stephanie Marquesano, Harris's Mom - and the founder of the harris project
