USA First Lady Dr. Jill Biden and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff

Dear Mrs. McMaster,
My name is Allison Swygert and I’m writing to implore you to help us place a Memorial Wall for
South Carolina victims of the drug epidemic, either in the Capitol Building or somewhere on the
grounds. Just released preliminary CDC reports show that drugs claimed almost 110,000
American lives in 2022. The South Carolina share of that number is roughly 2,283 lives. Those
numbers are sure to rise as certificates are reviewed, but over two-thirds of the SC and total USA
deaths included fentanyl, a deadly synthetic opioid 50 times more powerful than heroin and 100
times more powerful than morphine. There is also a newer, even more potent drug called
xylazine, nicknamed “the zombie drug,” which eats people’s flesh that has made its way to SC. It
has been found in multiple toxicology reports. My childhood friend’s son died of a
fentanyl/xylazine combination in Lexington County in November 2021.
Mrs. McMaster, this is the world your grandchildren and mine are about to grow up in. Never in
the history of America have we had such a deadly drug battle. It is past time to stand up and rally
behind the fight against the drugs that are killing our loved ones; more than that, to fight for our
youth like their lives depend on it - because they now do. Right now, in Lexington County, I
personally know ten families who have lost young adult children to this horrible drug epidemic
since December of 2018! Two of the victims were kin to me.
There is a VIRTUAL Memorial Wall for every single state, and you can see over 4,000 photos by
going to drugepidemicmemorial.org. More families continue to submit their loved ones’ photos
every day. Every single state has ambassadors working hard to get memorial walls placed in their
capital cities. Can we be the first and set the standard for the others to follow? As I write this
letter, the South Carolina Virtual Wall currently has 64 photos and now that the project is gaining
traction, more families continue to come forward. The SC Virtual Memorial Wall can be found at
sc.drugepidemicmemorial.org and I’ve included a photo in this letter.
Most of the victims of this horrible epidemic did not overdose but were POISONED – given a false
substance (fentanyl, xylazine) in place of what they thought they were taking. Just one wrong
choice meant death, and as a result, never-ending grief for those they left behind…their children,
spouses, parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends.
Won’t you help us honor our stolen loved ones by helping us find a home for a permanent
Memorial Wall that families can come and visit, and touch their loved one’s photo or name? A
team of SC ambassadors would love to meet with you at your earliest convenience to share our
stories and our vision, and to start a conversation about how we can honor our lost South Carolina
loved ones. Please contact me at the number or email below at any time. Thank you so much for
hearing our plea. God Bless you and Governor McMaster in leading our state.
Very Sincerely,
Allison G. Swygert – West Columbia, SC
Grieving Relative, Friend and Community Member
agswygert@gmail.com
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