Documenting the impact

One of Casey’s childhood friends, Miranda Caryll, had been sharing Casey’s obituary and a Pittsburgh PostGazette story with people on Facebook, asking for them to send photographs and messages documenting where Casey’s story had reached.

“I was very hesitant at first. I know that addiction is a very touchy subject, and it can cause arguments,” said Ms. Caryll, 20, of Castle Shannon. “There was just something in my head telling me [to do it], and I know it was probably just Casey saying, ‘Send a message. Send it.’ ”

She thought she might get one or two photographs. Instead, she woke up repeatedly to dozens of messages.