Houston mom whose son died from drug overdose helps others

“Harris was born to do comedy,” said Maureen Wittels. “He was killing it at just 3 years old.”

It’s obvious in a tribute video on YouTube for Harris Wittels he was a talented comedian and writer.

“At 18, he won Houston’s 3rd funniest comedian at the Laughstop,” Wittels said. “At 22, he was hired by Sarah Silverman to work on her comedy show on TV."

Harris Wittels soon became a rising star on the sitcom Parks and Recreation. He can be seen acting in this an episode on YouTube.

But like a lot of people, a back injury left Harris addicted to pain pills.

“He had a very addictive personality,” his mother said. “He did everything large and moved right into heroin.”

After three stints in rehab, Harris Wittels died from a heroin overdose at the age of 30.

"You just go into shock, and I had a lot of anger and it moved on to advocacy,” Whittels said. “That’s what I’m trying to do, spare other families from this nightmare.”