LAND O' LAKES, Fla. — The CDC announced last month that drug overdose deaths topped 100,000 over a 12 month period.

According to the CDC, 100,306 people died of drug overdoses between May 2020 and April 2021. Many of those families will be having their first Christmas without the loved ones they lost.

One of those families is the Coopers. Ryan Cooper was 22 years old. He died of an overdose on September 3, 2021. His family shared his story with the hopes it could save lives. 

Ryan's mom, Sandy, says her son was first exposed to opioids as a teenager. He was prescribed OxyContin after a surgery.

“I think that was the beginning of him being exposed to it and needing it and wanting it," said Sandy Cooper.

“He also struggled with mental illness. He was diagnosed bipolar. That was another element that was kind of fighting against him," said Shelby Cooper, Ryan's sister. 

Sandy says Ryan didn't know the pills he bought online contained fentanyl. That is what he overdosed on in September. 

Now the family is working through their grief together and trying to keep his memory alive.

“Even though he’s gone, we are trying to feel him every day," said Sandy. 

Sandy says she wants people to know Ryan wasn't defined by his addiction. 

"He had a full life and love. He was funny. He was smart. He had gotten into PHSC where he was going to start. It's just that it soon became too much. It did take over," said Sandy. 

She says he loved animals and had dreams of becoming a pilot. He was proud of his family. 

His sister Shelby is now a Prevention Specialist at Hillsborough County Anti-Drug Alliance. She hopes to help save lives and prevent overdoses.