On January 12, 2003, Brandon Vedas, AKA "ripper," died of a massive overdose of prescription drugs while onlookers cheered him on in an IRC chat room.

This site is dedicated to the memory of Brandon, and to the education and prevention of future tragedies. Despite all his knowledge, Brandon made some poor choices that night. Like many addicts, he hid his abuse from many who could help. Like many who struggle with drugs, he thought he was always in control. Like many who fall into the dark world of serious narcotics, he thought it was all a game that he could always beat. Tragically, this time he lost.

Many of ripper’s friends saw the warning signs before and either didn’t know how to help or simply turned a blind eye. This site is a reminder that whether in person or online, we as humankind are given the task of looking out for those we care about. While each person will ultimately make their own decisions in life, we all need wise counsel and love to help guide us in the right direction. My hope is that maybe someone reading this will recognize a Brandon in their life, and make an effort to help before it’s too late.

Brandon’s brother
Rich Vedas