A letter from Stephanie Marquesano, founder of the harris project.
Harris Blake Marquesano was my son. He was also a brother, grandson, nephew, cousin and friend — a deeply loving and brilliant young man whose energy, humor and passion touched everyone who knew him. At just 19 years old, he died of an accidental overdose, a devastating loss to our family, his friends, and his community. Harris’ sister, Jensyn, was just a high school senior when he died, a loss that shaped her life in ways no young person should have to face. My husband, Alan, carries a quiet but profound grief that only a father can know. Harris’ absence is felt in the everyday moments and life’s milestones — reminders of the love we shared and the future that should have been.
His death, like that of so many others, was rooted in a struggle that too few people truly understand: co-occurring disorders.
When Harris entered his first inpatient rehabilitation program, we heard the term co-occurring disorders for the first time. It was a revelation. We realized that his struggles with an anxiety disorder, ADHD, and substance use weren’t separate issues — they were deeply connected. Like so many others, Harris turned to substances to manage the pain and difficulties he couldn’t put into words. It wasn’t about poor choices or moral failings — it was about trying to survive pain that felt unbearable.
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We believed in the promise of recovery. Over the final year and a half of his life, Harris bravely entered program after program, each claiming expertise in co-occurring disorders. But what we encountered was heartbreaking: a system that largely failed to deliver on its promises.
It isn’t just a private struggle — it’s a public health crisis. More than 21 million Americans live with it, and while the causes and symptoms may vary, the connection between mental health challenges and substance misuse is universal. It touches everything: schools, workplaces, the justice system and healthcare. It affects people of every age, ethnicity, gender and socioeconomic background. Mental health challenges often emerge early, leading young people to turn to substances as a way to self-medicate. By the time the need for help becomes obvious, families are left in crisis and individuals face systems that fail to treat both conditions together.
But there is hope. Prevention starts with understanding that mental health challenges and substance use issues are interconnected. Schools, communities and the healthcare system must prioritize awareness and early intervention to break the stigma and create pathways to care.
Launching the harris project is my way of ensuring Harris’s story has meaning. Through prevention, integrated treatment and support for families, we can break the cycle of co-occurring disorders.
Harris’s favorite artists — like Mac Miller and Avicii — were public figures who faced similar struggles and tragically died. By shining a light on co-occurring disorders, we can honor all the lives lost and create a future where no one has to struggle alone, whether they’re a teenager from Westchester County, New York, or a star on the world stage.
That’s why I’m proud to partner with Us Weekly as they take another look at stories of the past and add context, interviews and new information to tell the whole story — and change the way we all talk about mental health challenges and substance misuse.
To purchase The Missing Issue for $8.99 go to https://magazineshop.us/harrisproject.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health and/or substance use, you are not alone. Seek immediate intervention — call 911 for medical attention; 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline; or 1-800-662-HELP for the SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) National Helpline. Carrying naloxone (Narcan) can help reverse an opioid overdose.
