A Mother's Worst Nightmare: Losing My Son to Fentanyl After a Lifetime of Struggle

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning · 2025-04-27

In this heartbreaking episode of Rise Above, Salena shares the devastating journey of her son's battle with addiction — from early trouble with the law, to opioid dependence after an injury, and years of struggling to stay alive. After surviving a shooting that left her paralyzed, Salena faced the unimaginable: losing her son to a fentanyl overdose just six months ago. This raw and emotional conversation shines a light on the hidden battles families face behind closed doors — and the brutal toll addiction takes on everyone it touches.

Watch her story of pain, resilience, and hard-won wisdom now.

#AddictionAwareness #FentanylCrisis #RiseAbovePodcast #OpioidEpidemic #AddictionRecovery #OverdoseAwareness #MentalHealthMatters #ParalysisSurvivor #FamilyAddiction #GriefJourney #SubstanceAbuseAwareness #MothersStory #Resilience #HealingJourney #HeartbreakAndHope
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning

Welcome to Rise Above with Kevin Lanning. Join Kevin, a former Google executive in sobriety, as he shares inspiring stories of resilience. Each episode features individuals who have faced life’s toughest challenges—addiction, trauma, anxiety, and more—and emerged stronger. These conversations aren’t just about survival; they’re about thriving and finding practical solutions to rise above adversity. Kevin’s own journey through addiction and childhood trauma fuels his passion for sharing stories that uplift, educate, and inspire. Tune in and discover the strength within you.

Where can you listen?

Episodes