Jacob Burdette was a prodigy drummer and a loving, easygoing young man. Despite facing addiction, his mother, LeAnne Burdette, recalls his determination to live and his passion for music. Through their story, Jacob’s family has channeled their pain into advocacy, forming a nonprofit dedicated to saving lives with Narcan.
Jacob Burdette, a gifted musician who began playing drums at just four years old, was a naturally talented and gentle child. LeAnne Burdette remembers her son as “a sweet, loving child” who inherited his calm demeanor from his father. “He never raised his voice; he was always really cool, calm, and collected,” LeAnne Burdette said. “Even in the depths of his disease, he never stole from us or raised his voice. He was always seeking to get better.”
Jacob’s musical journey started young, and by his teenage years, he had formed a band, traveling around the Tri-Cities to share his passion for music. His mother recalls how, encouraged by his musician father, Jacob’s life was “all about music” for many years.
However, as a freshman in high school, Jacob’s path began to shift. He started using marijuana, which led to other substances. “No one grows up aspiring to be a drug addict, and Jacob certainly didn’t,” Burdette said. “He hated it and fought so hard to live.” Jacob entered rehab four times, including a stay at a facility called Plugged in Austin, which focused on musicians. While he had long periods of sobriety, Jacob ultimately overdosed for the last time shortly after being released from rehab. Narcan had saved Jacob’s life on multiple occasions, which is why it became a central focus of the family’s nonprofit efforts.
LeAnne Burdette began thinking about creating a nonprofit after Jacob’s death to address the struggles families face when a loved one battles addiction. Although the organization officially launched in January, the family’s website had been in existence for two years.
Burdette stated, “I just started feeling like we couldn’t be the only family going through this.” She described how addiction has an effect on the addict as well as the entire family, frequently taking precedence over the needs of other loved ones. Jacob’s age-group peer, LeAnne’s daughter, battled emotions of resentment toward her brother because she believed that his addiction had caused their family great suffering. LeAnne was inspired to provide a resource for other families facing comparable challenges by this experience.
“We wanted to get our story out there to let others know that if they’re going through something similar, they are not alone,” Burdette said. The family’s journey eventually led to a focus on distributing Narcan, a life-saving drug that reverses opioid overdoses.
Narcan, a medication that can reverse opioid overdoses, is a vital tool in saving lives. “This medication is a win-win,” Burdette said. “If you give it to someone who isn’t overdosing, it cannot harm them. It’s as easy to use as a nasal spray, so why not have it available?”
LeAnne, a flight attendant for over 35 years, spent two years advocating for Narcan to be available on airplanes, a campaign that eventually succeeded. “The chances of someone needing Narcan multiple times a day are high,” she explained. “It took me over two years to convince the number one airline in the world to get Narcan on board, and another six months to write the policy language allowing flight attendants to access it.”
LeAnne worked tirelessly to push for access to Narcan in Texas. After a year-long campaign, Texas legislators began distributing Narcan to nonprofits following a large lawsuit settlement. Now, LeAnne’s nonprofit is able to distribute Narcan at no cost. “Now, I’m able to get it for free and distribute it as quickly as I receive it,” she stated. The Burdette family continues to remember Jacob by using their traumatic experience to help others and stop more lives from being lost through their foundation.
LeAnne pointed out the stigma associated with the medicine, despite its usefulness. “People frequently reply, ‘Oh, I don’t need that,’ when I set up at public events like Mayfest and Grapefest and they see the ‘Free Narcan’ sign. I don’t know anyone who does drugs, and neither do I. “If you step out your front door, you’re around people who do drugs,” is how I respond to that.
According to LeAnne, Narcan should be in every household’s first aid kit. “There’s an uptick in the elderly taking prescribed medications and overdosing,” she said. “Narcan should be in every home—it has no downside.”
LeAnne’s nonprofit has partnered with several police departments to ensure officers carry Narcan. “I’ve donated to police departments in North Richland Hills, Keller, Carrollton, and Arlington,” she said. “Police are often the first ones on the scene, and Narcan can be the difference between life and death while waiting for EMS.”
Through her efforts, officers now carry Narcan in small apparatuses on their belts. LeAnne made it apparent that she was willing to assist, even though several were first hesitant. “In one instance, I waited for someone to notice me for two hours in a police department lobby,” the woman stated. “That’s how I make cold calls; I just show up and say, ‘Hey, this is what I do,’ and I wait to speak with someone.”
In addition to police departments, LeAnne works with MoreNarcan.com, an initiative through UT San Antonio, to distribute Narcan. “Anyone can go there and get one for free,” she explained. However, LeAnne expressed concern about the rising cost of Narcan now that it is available over the counter. “Before it was over the counter, most insurance companies covered it. Now, the price is between $48 and $52 per box, which makes it less affordable for many.”
LeAnne and other activists convened in Denton, Texas, on August 31, National Overdose Awareness Day, to increase public awareness of opiate addiction. More than 600 people attended the gathering we had on the courthouse grounds, according to Burdette. “It’s a day to celebrate those who are recovering and to honor those who have passed away.”
LeAnne underlined the gravity of the opioid issue, pointing out that 300 Americans still die from overdoses every day. She remarked, “That’s one person every 4.5 minutes.” How long before people began to wonder, “What’s going on here?,” if an airliner went down every day and 300 people were lost? But there is still a stigma associated with addiction.
Looking ahead, LeAnne’s nonprofit has ambitious goals for expanding Narcan training and awareness, particularly in schools. “We’re conducting more Narcan training sessions,” she said. “I recently earned my community health worker certificate, specializing in substance use disorders, and we’re working on integrating that into more community efforts.”
The organization is also involved in developing curriculum for the University of North Texas’ community health worker program and is in talks with local school districts about incorporating Narcan education. “We want to make people more aware that everyone should have Narcan on hand,” LeAnne said. “Every time I go to work, I bring Narcan to show my crew members how to use it and identify the signs and symptoms of an overdose.”
Additionally, the nonprofit is distributing Narcan necklaces, which contain a dose of the medication along with instructions in both English and Spanish. “These have been really popular,” LeAnne said. “So, our main focus moving forward is getting into more schools and continuing to push for widespread education and awareness.”
Jacob Burdette’s legacy lives on through the music he loved and the advocacy his family has embraced. While addiction stole Jacob’s future, his story continues to save lives, ensuring that no family has to feel alone in their fight against addiction. Jacob Burdette was a prodigy drummer and a loving, easygoing young man. Despite facing addiction, his mother, LeAnne Burdette, recalls his determination to live and his passion for music. Through their story, Jacob’s family has channeled their pain into advocacy, dedicated to saving lives with Narcan.
