No one ever expected that the son of an addiction medicine specialist would struggle with drug addiction. Or that he would die of an overdose.

At 34, Max Burke knew the risks. He knew his limits. And there were signs that Burke was doing well. He had a job as an engineer. He had a steady girlfriend.

Burke’s family understood the perils of his opiate addiction, having openly discussed it for more than a decade. They thought there were no secrets.

But anyone can be vulnerable to an overdose of fentanyl, especially people who struggle with addiction.

On Nov. 18, Burke died.

Burke, a graduate of Mountain View High School in Bend, had been challenged by addiction to opiates for nearly a decade.

“Max’s successes in life, even while struggling as an opiate addict, may be due in part to him having a mom who was an addiction specialists,” said Callie Burke, Max Burke’s sister. “But his death was purely because of fentanyl.

“There are lots of people like Max, who have struggled with addiction to opiates or other drugs in the past and may relapse on occasion.”

Heroin, a drug made from morphine, is an opiate, said family practice Dr. Jamie McAllister, Max Burke’s mother. It can be smoked or injected, and is increasingly harder to find, said McAllister.

Where to go to get help

Where to go to

get help

If you or someone you care about is struggling with drug or alcohol use, here are resources that can help:

• Crisis services are available in Deschutes County through the Suicide and Crisis lifeline, which can be reached via call or text at 988, or 541-322-7500 ext. 9. People can also walk into the Stabilization Center at 63311 NE Jamison St. in Bend, which is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration national helpline: 800-662-4357.

• Find treatment near you at findtreatment.gov.

• Lines for Life, the drug and alcohol helpline, is for individuals and family members seeking crisis intervention, treatment referral, and chemical-dependency information. Call 800-923-4357 or text “Recovery Now” to 839863.

• A teen-to-teen crisis and helpline for youth and teens is available from 4-10 p.m. on weekdays via phone at 877-968-8491 or via text at ‘teen2teen’ to 839863.

• For information about opioids, fentanyl and response, visit Deschutes County Health Services website www.deschutes.org/stopoverdose.

In the United States more than 93,000 people died from a drug overdose between June 2023 and 2024, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That’s a 17% decline over the previous period, according to the CDC.

In Deschutes County there were 31 opioid deaths so far this year, according to Deschutes County Health Services data. The county is experiencing one of the lowest rates in the state, said Ana Woodburn, Deschutes County Health Services overdose prevention and response strategist.

Fatal drug overdoses in Oregon reached record levels in 2023

Fatal drug overdoses in Oregon reached record levels

Max’s story

Max Burke grew up in Bend and Alaska. He used drugs off and on during his high school years, but would always get himself clean without needing to go to rehab, McAllister said.

While Burke was a drug user, he tried to avoid fentanyl powder, said McAllister. He would go to La Pine to buy fentanyl in blue pills to avoid the powder that was much more potent.

Overdose deaths are down nationally, but up in Oregon, Western states

Overdose deaths are down nationally, but up in Oregon, Western states

“Max struggled with opiates for a long time, mainly heroin, which is almost impossible to find now,” Callie Burke said. “He had always been able to get clean, usually on his own. He was was doing so well and all the pieces of his life had really seemed to fall into place. No one knew he was using at the time of his death.”

Max Burke also was a fun guy, someone who liked to hike and dance. He once hiked the Pacific Crest Trail as a way to get sober, Callie Burke said. He worked at the Pine Tavern for many years, and spent years on his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. He came back to Bend in 2021 and landed a job as a civil engineer.

Four die from fentanyl overdoses in the first week of the year, continuing to worsening trend

Four die from fentanyl overdoses in the first week of the year, continuing worsening trend

“He was a careful user,” said McAllister. “His friends were shocked that he was the one who died. He was afraid of fentanyl. He tried to stay away from the powder form of it. But it’s harder to get heroin or the pill form of fentanyl.”

Mason Hetz, Burke’s friend since high school, said Burke was street smart, book smart and people smart. When Burke would meet new people, he’d really listen, not just wait to talk, said Hetz, 33.

“I lived with him,” Hetz said. “I know he wasn’t using every day. I think he’d dabble a bit and that’s what people who live with addiction do. Nearly 95% of the time Max seemed happy and great.”

On the day he died, Burke had completed assembling a new electric wall heater the night before. When Hetz was getting ready for work he noticed there wasn’t any hot water. He heard the shower going in Burke’s bathroom, but didn’t think anything of it.

But after going to work and coming back home an hour later because work was canceled, Hetz said he still hadn’t seen Burke. He knocked on the bathroom door. No answer. That’s when Hetz got scared and broke down the door. Burke had died.

“I could kick myself,” Hetz said. “If I had only gone in there sooner. I know I sound calm now, but I wasn’t then. It was shocking. I don’t judge Max.”

Responding to overdoses

Most overdose deaths come from users not understanding the strength of fentanyl powder, said Woodburn. And most people who die of overdoses die alone.

Deschutes County’s harm reduction program provides tools and training to people about overdose prevention and response, Woodburn said. This year the county has held 20 trainings for community organizations in overdose prevention and recognition , Woodburn said.

Many service providers, including pharmacies and police, fire and emergency management services carry the antidote drug naloxone. Fentanyl test strips are available for free and so are other supplies through the county harm reduction unit, she said.

McAllister, who retired from her practice about a year ago, often would provide supplies to anyone who needed it, including her son. In her family practice, she often used her knowledge of drug addiction to help her patients. And now she doesn’t want her son’s death to be shrouded in a stigma.

“We don’t want this to be Max’s identity,” Callie Burke said. “He was a drug addict. He was a great guy and had so many gifts.”

Drug addiction is a disease, McAllister said. The problem is fentanyl is so potent and is the main opiate out on the streets controlled by the Mexican cartels, she said.

“He used alone and had a lot of shame around his addiction,” McAllister said. “He tried to stay ahead of it and he didn’t plan on dying. He was trying to live and to keep his withdrawal symptoms at bay.

“He knew how dangerous it was. We talked about it a number of times.”

Celebration of Life

A celebration of life for Max Burke will be held 3 p.m. Dec. 28 at the Unity Spiritual Community, 63645 Scenic Dr., Bend. For more information contact Callie Burke at 541-419-8854.