( KLFY ) — Tyler Miller Alderson died in July 2022 at just 27 years old after a long struggle with addiction. His sister, Shelby Skaggs, said she is learning how to cope with his death but the journey has not been easy.

Skaggs said she and her family were in Texas visiting her grandparents in July 2022 when they received a call that Alderson had overdosed on a heroin pill that was laced with fentanyl. The news shocked her because Alderson had just become clean the year before, she said.

Alderson’s death took a toll on her. She said she has been dealing with depression and anxiety.

“With me not dealing with it, it ended up with my mental health deteriorating by the day. It got so bad to the point where I needed to be hospitalized because I just didn’t know how to cope with it,” Skaggs said.

She said she is now taking the loss day by day and is happy to know that he is at peace.

“I only got a little bit of life with him but I got 18 years with him. I grew up with him. He used to be my brother that lived in the room next to me. Now it’s crazy because everywhere you go, the littlest thing can remind you of this person,” Skaggs said.

Despite the struggles her family continues to face with his passing, Skaggs said they will always hold memories of him.

“We called him Bubba… He had the funniest laugh, he instantly lit up a room when he was in it,” Skaggs said.

She advises people who are currently struggling with addiction to choose family over drugs.

“I strongly urge anyone that’s on addiction to get better, if you feel like you can’t get better for you get better for the people around you,” Skaggs said.

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