New Day. New Beginning.
The DCT Foundation is a community based 501(c)3 non profit organization, serving and supporting individuals and their families that are struggling with substance use, addiction and mental health. We are dedicated to offering charitable aid for treatment and recovery for low-income adults, as well as community harm reduction services, overdose prevention and response programs.
Statement from the founders
The DCT Foundation was created after our beautiful son, Dan, died at the age of 24 from an accidental drug overdose. While he struggled and suffered with addiction for the last 7 years of his precious short life, this didn’t define him. He was bright, caring, funny, and athletic and loved by many. The pain of losing our son was crippling. The memories of that devastating day on December 3rd, 2010, is somewhat clouded. But the shock, numbness, emptiness, tears and pain that filled our bodies is something that may never be completely forgotten. The final good-by from a parent to a child is an unnatural act, and one that may have been prevented if we had the resources, education, treatment, and prevention tools.
Addiction not only affects and can destroy the person who is struggling with its grip, but also those who care the most and are closest, their family and friends. They/we suffer physically, emotionally, financially and socially. Our grief is still at times tangled with a longing for answers, many of which may never be answered. Within a few months after Dan’s death, we were searching for grief support, and tried a local hospital, only to discover that we didn’t seem to be able to “fit in”. While any type of death is a very sad loss, a parent grieving their child is one that only another parent can identify and support. Also, the journey of addiction is complicated, and for some, filled with shame. We discovered a national support group, GRASP (Grief Recovery After Substance Passing), and decided to start a local chapter. In May, 2011, we had our first group and it was attended by over 30 people. We currently meet once a month, and some of the original group still attend. While we may never have some of those questions answered, we have found love, strength and support among these very special people, who are now our GRASP family. Yet we still felt the need to move in the direction of advocacy for substance abuse treatment and prevention.
Many obstacles are evident when searching for drug and alcohol treatment information and assistance. To honor Dan’s life, this foundation was formed with help and support of our surviving sons, John and Austin.
As a community, we face a challenge, in that the issues surrounding addiction are shrouded in stigma, misunderstanding, silence and shame. To everyone who assists and encourages our outreach efforts in awareness, prevention and treatment, we hold you deeply in our hearts. To our sons John and Austin, we love you, and we embrace the future together, healing and supporting one another. We are blessed in all that we share.
- Carl & Toni Torsch
“Community in Crisis - Chasing the High”. Interview with Toni Torsch. Read the interview
Our History
Ten years. I can't believe its been 10 years since I've spoken to you or hugged you. 10 years since that day that changed mine and so many other lives forever. Each year around this time it gets a little harder, a little colder. I remember the family sitting at the kitchen table not long after Dan died talking about forming a nonprofit and what we wanted to do in your memory. I think we all asked the same question, "how much are we actually going to be able to do to help people?" "What can one family really do?"
This year I/we are finally able to acknowledge and accept the fact that as a result of Dan’s death, there was a quiet movement to bring change in Maryland. Since December 3rd 2010, thousands of Maryland lives have been saved, impacted and improved due to the efforts by the DCTF and others committed to bringing awareness, education and prevention of drug and alcohol addiction.
It's our mission in life to help save and improve as many lives as we can and along the way we've formed lifelong friendships with many others who have experienced similar tragedies. Our tribe continues to grow
year after year. I couldn't be any more proud of what I/we have accomplished in the 10 years since that day.
We all agree that we have finally answered the question that we asked each other at the kitchen table all those years ago. It's truly amazing how one family's passion can have such a positive impact on so many lives. Dan's legacy is secure and we are at peace with his passing from this life.
If you've been the recipient of support from myself or the DCT Foundation, this guy is the reason why. If you are a parent, sibling or friend of someone who died from an overdose or drugs in some way, don't underestimate the power you have to create real change in your community. We need your family's help in this fight and it starts in our own backyard. Thank you to all the fellow warriors and organizations that we fight alongside daily, this writing might be about us but you are certainly not forgotten.
- Written by co founder John Torsch on December 3rd, 2020
Timeline
Here are some significant developments and impactful contributions made by the foundation since December 3rd, 2010:
May 2011
Started Maryland chapter of GRASP support group
August 2011
Received official 501c3 status for DCTF
Nov 2011
First fundraiser, over 500 people attended
Jan 2012
Started providing scholarships for addiction treatment and recovery services
Jan 2013
Started working on Overdose Response bill (SB610) with Senator Klausmier and Delegate Bromwell to allow widespread access to Naloxone.
May 2013
SB610 Passed and law signed
Jan 2014
Started collaborating with legislators and advocates on strengthening Maryland’s Good Samaritan law and policy (HB416) (1st law was in 2009
June 2014
Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene approved DCTF as an authorized entity (ORP) to train others and dispense Naloxone. We were the second private entity approved in the state
Sept 2014
Received first shipment of Naloxone (1200 doses) from Dan Bigg at CRA
Feb 2015
Collaborated with legislators and advocates on filling loop holes and tightening the Good Samaritan law - (SB654) bill signed in May 2015
Jan 2017
Collaborated with legislators and advocates to create the 'Hope Act' which provided a huge increase in funding for addiction treatment and recovery services
May 2017
'Hope Act' passed and was dedicated to the memory of Daniel Torsch and Jessica Tassone.
Jan 2019
Started working on (SB643) with Senator Klausmier. Forfeiture Proceeds – Appropriation Percentage and Reporting. Increased the rate from 20% to 100% of all funds seized from certain drug convictions to be used for addiction treatment and recovery services.
April 2019
SB643 signed into law
August 2019
DCTF overdose awareness statistic signs (7) erected around Baltimore County with the help and sponsorship of local businesses
Jan 2020
Ambulance donated to DCTF and a large private donation made to create mobile harm reduction program
Feb 2020
Received a grant to hire a 4-person peer support team to dispense harm reduction supplies and provide care coordination services
July 2020
Received a grant to provide services specifically for the homeless and rapidly released from incarceration due to Covid 19
Dec 2020
Completion of a 5-part harm reduction video series designed for the deaf community