Passionate, competitive, funny, intelligent, spirited
Cameron was funny, sassy, a risk taker and liked to be right. He was intelligent and competitive and involved himself in whatever he did 100 percent. An entrepreneur at an early age, he went door to door selling items from a catalog, making a lot of money. He was also involved in local children’s theatre and in musicals such as Stuart Little and The Jungle Book. Cameron loved playing video games and had a passion for golf, which he started at 10 and played through high school and college.
Cameron’s addiction started when taking opioids for a broken back. Even in active addiction, he graduated from high school at the top of his class and carried the ceremonial business banner at his graduation. He went to college, where he was in a stock market club that competed against other colleges to see whose portfolio earned the most money. They placed fifth, over Harvard and Yale. After graduating Magna cum Laude, Cameron got an entry-level job in finance. He was respected in the office for his work and liked for his ability to keep everyone entertained and happy by riding around the office on a scooter.
Cameron valued his family. He and his older brother, Grant, were close growing up, playing video games and baseball together, but drifted apart a bit when Cameron became actively addicted. Cameron’s other brother, Reed, 10 years younger, misses his brother and looks a lot like Cameron.
“It was hard that Cameron couldn’t be the person he wanted to be. He got lost,” his mother, Elizabeth, stated. Cameron wasn’t the same person during active addiction. He would go to treatment, get sober for a time, then relapse. He felt shame, which would drive him back to taking the drugs. Cameron couldn’t live with himself being that way.”
“I always thought addiction was a choice, but I learned it changes the brain and the ability to be in control,” his mom said. Losing Cameron has motivated Elizabeth to hold a monthly support group. She also educates high school students about the dangers of fentanyl.
Cameron’s favorite foods had an international bent – spaghetti carbonara, Dutch Baby (a German pancake) and Australian red licorice. All of these were served and enjoyed at the reception held after Cameron’s funeral.
“I know the stereotype is that people with substance use disorder are homeless and in the gutter,” his mom said. “I would love people to know that Cameron and our family were just regular people. Cameron was a real person. He had a life and plans for his future. We miss him being here for life events, like his brother’s marriage and the birth of his nephew, Grayson. He would have been a wonderful uncle.”
Cameron’s mother, Elizabeth Andersen, provided the information for this narrative.
July 14, 1989-September 7, 2015
Age 26-Lived with the disease of addiction eight years.
