Local drug awareness advocate Carol Egan dies at 73

Egan dedicated her life to supporting families impacted by the opioid epidemic

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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Carol Egan, a Savannah resident who spent the last several years advocating for drug awareness and supporting families affected by the opioid crisis, died in a car crash on February 11 at the age of 73. Egan founded several initiatives, including Rooting for Recovery and The Drug Epidemic Memorial Wall, to honor those lost to overdoses and raise awareness about the epidemic.

Why it matters

Egan's advocacy work highlighted the devastating impact of the opioid crisis on communities across the country, and her efforts to provide support and resources for grieving families were crucial in a time of heightened need. Her passing is a significant loss for the drug awareness movement.

The details

After learning about the high number of overdose deaths in the opioid epidemic, Egan began mentoring families and organizing advocacy efforts. In 2018, she traveled to Connecticut to protest against Purdue Pharma, the pharmaceutical company many blame for fueling the crisis. Egan then launched several initiatives, including Rooting for Recovery, which plants trees to honor overdose victims, and The Drug Epidemic Memorial Wall, a traveling display featuring 7,569 names of those lost worldwide. Egan also created Facebook support groups in every state and drafted a proposal for the White House to declare a month dedicated to drug awareness.

  • Egan died in a car crash on February 11, 2026.
  • In 2018, Egan traveled to Connecticut to protest against Purdue Pharma.
  • In 2022, Egan created The Drug Epidemic Memorial Wall.

The players

Carol Egan

A 73-year-old Savannah resident who dedicated her life to drug awareness advocacy and supporting families affected by the opioid crisis.

Rebecca Finnerty

A colleague of Egan's who worked with her on advocacy initiatives.

Lou Cuadrado

A colleague of Egan's who worked with her on advocacy initiatives.

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What they’re saying

“Her incredible gift was where she brought people from the depths of what they were in to strengthen them to be advocates.”

— Rebecca Finnerty, Colleague

“Egan's mission was relentless and she was a force of nature.”

— Lou Cuadrado, Colleague

What’s next

There will be a candlelight vigil for Egan on Facebook on March 17.

The takeaway

Egan's passing is a significant loss for the drug awareness movement, but her legacy of advocacy and support for families impacted by the opioid crisis will continue to inspire others to carry on her important work.