“He was his dad’s ‘big-man’ and best friend, his momma’s baby boy, and the protector of his sisters,” according to the teen’s obituary
Credit: WSB-TV/YouTube; Memorial Park Funeral Homes
NEED TO KNOW
- A Georgia father is speaking out after his 19-year-old son, Thomas Habeeb, died from a fentanyl overdose in July 2025
- The man said he believes his son’s death was caused by a THC vape pen laced with fentanyl
- The grieving dad described his son as “the kind of kid who just had a beautiful heart”
A Georgia man is attempting to raise awareness about the dangers of fentanyl-laced vape pens after his teenage son overdosed and died in 2025.
Tommy Habeeb of Hoschton in Jackson County described his son, Thomas, as “the kind of kid who just had a beautiful heart,” while speaking to Atlanta ABC affiliate WSB-TV.
“Never [met] a stranger. Always eager to help people,” he added.
Tommy said that Thomas, who was 19 at the time of his death, struggled with substance abuse when he was a junior in high school, but his son got clean and attended North Georgia College as a finance major.
He added that his son began vaping heavily at that time, including THC vapes, which contain tetrahydrocannabinol — the primary compound in cannabis that causes a “high.”
The dad said Thomas’ mother went to wake him up the morning of July 15, 2025, and found him dead, adding that an autopsy report revealed his son died of a fentanyl overdose.
However, the father of three said he feels certain Thomas did not intend to take fentanyl due to the fact that he had lost friends to the substance. He told the outlet that he believes his son's THC vape was laced with the drug.
“He obviously wasn't 21, so he got them by either going into a convenience store and getting them underage, or getting them off the streets. I wanted to open an investigation in Jackson County. The investigator was in complete agreement, but the problem, he said, [is] it's like a needle in a haystack. It's an epidemic out there,” he said.
Credit: Memorial Park Funeral Homes
The grieving father said that while the pain of losing a child is indescribable, he hopes that sharing his son's story will help spread awareness about the dangers of fentanyl.
“The pain is unique; this type of pain is unexplainable,” he said.
“If I can prevent one parent from feeling this pain, it would be a success for me. The message I would like to send to parents is stronger awareness, and also be a voice to your representatives about regulations,” he added.
Thomas is survived by his parents and two sisters, as well as a number of extended family, according to his online obituary.
“He was his dad's ‘big-man' and best friend, his momma's baby boy, and the protector of his sisters,” the obituary continued. "He will be remembered for his big, beautiful heart and his love for music, video games, and jeeping. Thomas was authentic and a stranger to none.”
Thomas' family has since established a charitable endowment in his memory through the University of Georgia called the Thomas Habeeb IV Wellness and Health Memorial Endowment.
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The fund was established “to honor Thomas's legacy by championing what he cared about most: people,” per the official webpage.
The endowment exists to support the mental, emotional and physical wellness of students and staff at the University of North Georgia.
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