A Westport man is making the final preparations to launch what he's hoping will become the go-to organization to help people fighting addiction in the U.S.

Jim Hood co-founded "Facing Addition" to serve as a central resource for the one in three families in the U.S. that he says deal with the devastation of addiction.

Hood is no stranger to the ruination of the disease, he says losing his 20-year-old son Austin to an accidental drug overdose three years ago changed his life.

He says his mission is to get people to understand that anyone can be impacted by addiction.

Hood says that an Oct. 4 launch planned for the National Mall in Washington, D.C. is already attracting support from some big names, including Joe Walsh, Steven Tyler, Sheryl Crow, The Fray and John Rzeznik from the Goo Goo Dolls.