In the early morning hours of Christmas 2015, Courtney Atsalakis was awakened by the sound of the doorbell. At her door were Michigan State Troopers delivering devastating news: her sister, Amber Reineck, had passed away on Christmas Eve. Courtney was instructed to contact a detective in Maryland, who informed her that Amber had likely died of a drug overdose. The shock, guilt, and disbelief that followed were overwhelming, but what felt unbearable was knowing she had to break the news to Amber’s two daughters, Justice, age 15, and California, age 11. The girls had been staying with Courtney, eagerly awaiting their mother’s return to celebrate Christmas. Amber had been away working and hadn’t seen her girls since Halloween—missing Christmas was unthinkable for her. Courtney decided to wait until after Christmas to share the tragic news. She then faced the heart-wrenching task of waking her parents to tell them their daughter was gone.

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Amber’s story, unfortunately, is all too common today. Eight years earlier, she had suffered a back injury and was prescribed an opioid painkiller. But Amber had the disease of addiction, and when her prescriptions ran out, she turned to street drugs, trying to keep her struggle hidden out of shame. The toxicology report revealed Tylenol and fentanyl in her system. Courtney grappled with immense guilt, recalling harsh words she had spoken to Amber before her death. She had called her names, wrongly believing that Amber’s addiction was a choice, and she felt anger toward her for prioritizing drugs over her children.

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In the aftermath of Amber’s death, Courtney sought to understand her sister’s addiction and the broader opioid crisis. She began educating herself, participating in community awareness efforts, and speaking with experts. She joined the board of Home of New Vision, a recovery services provider in Ann Arbor, MI, where she learned about the stigma surrounding addiction—a stigma that prevents many from seeking help and makes family and friends unsupportive and judgmental. She also discovered how difficult it is for recovery providers to secure affordable transitional housing for those in recovery.

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Motivated by her personal loss, her new understanding of addiction, and the lack of supportive housing, Courtney founded the Amber Reineck House in December 2017 in memory of her sister. It has become her passion. The acquisition of a recovery home in Amber’s honor will provide people in recovery with the resources and support they need to envision a better future. Courtney has become a leader in the community, frequently speaking at events, and her story has been featured in the Detroit News.