TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — As many spend their Memorial Day with loved ones, Sharon Blair plans on visiting the grave of her daughter Jennifer. “I was very angry when Jennifer passed away. I was very very angry,” said Blair.

This month marks a huge accomplishment in Blair’s journey to honor her daughter’s memory and get help for people like her. When Jennifer passed in 2009, she had battled drug addiction for years before.

“She was given opiate pain medication for her back surgery so that’s how a lot of people get started with addiction,” said Blair who said she tried constantly to get help for her daughter. “The longer her addiction went on the worse it got. If we could’ve intervened in the beginning and gotten her the mental health services she needed in the beginning, it wouldn’t have spiraled to where she was so chronically addicted she had no control over it.”

“I filled five Marchman Act petitions in three different counties to  intercede for Jennifer to get medical help,” but Blair tells News Channel 8 Jennifer was only committed once for 72 hours.

But now, Blair tells News Channel 8 that a new law signed by Governor Rick Scott will help families like hers in the future. The new law will allow for those in need of treatment to be committed for weeks, even months. That is much longer than 72 hours the law currently allows.

“Substance addiction is a mental health issue, it’s a brain disease. It’s been proven by science and it requires professional help and professional treatment,” said Blair.

Blair said that as her battle continues. She has asked Governor Scott to name this bill in her daughter’s honor.

“Her life is going to leave a legacy of helping other people, her life is going to bless other people,” said Blair.WHAT OTHERS ARE CLICKING ON RIGHT NOW: