Melissa Etheridge’s son, Beckett Cypher, passed away at the age of 21, according to a statement written by Etheridge on her Twitter on Wednesday, May 13.
“Today I joined the hundreds of thousands of families who have lost loved ones to opioid addiction. My son Beckett, who was just 21, struggled to overcome his addiction and finally succumbed to it today. He will be missed by those who loved him, his family and friends,” Etheridge wrote.
“We struggled with what else we could have done to save him, and in the end we know he is out of the pain now,” the statement read.
The singer expressed her grief at losing her son, writing, “my heart is broken,” and thanked those who have reached out to offer their condolences.
“I am grateful for those who have reached out with condolences and I feel their love and sincere grief,” Etheridge wrote.
Beckett Cypher was the second child of Etheridge and Julie Cypher, a filmmaker. The two separated back in 2000 but decided to co-parent their children, Beckett and Bailey Cypher, according to Rolling Stone.
Many people, including fans, fellow celebrities, and organizations have reached out to Etheridge to offer their condolences and words of support following the statement.
“I will sing again, soon. It has always healed me,” Etheridge wrote, in order to reassure her followers and friends.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention stated that back in 2018, approximately 46,802 deaths were attributed to opioids, and out of that, two-thirds involved synthetic opioids. As well, every year, opioids kill tens of thousands of people.
Data suggests that of the approximately 2 million Americans suffering from opioid use disorder, approximately 1.27 million of them are now receiving medication-assisted treatment, according to the Health and Human Services.
“Central to our effort to stop the flood of fentanyl and other illicit drugs is our unprecedented support for law enforcement and their interdiction efforts,” said White House counsel Kellyanne Conway.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
