From Cancer to Addiction: Peyton's Story Will Change How You View Addiction

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Addiction doesn't discriminate—it can begin in the most unexpected ways, even through legitimate medical treatment. In this powerful conversation, Kelly shares the heartbreaking journey of her son Peyton, whose battle with opioid dependency began after cancer treatment.

At 16, Peyton was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma. The high-dose steroids used to save his life had devastating side effects, deteriorating his hip bones and requiring a full hip replacement by age 19. The prescription pain medications that followed created a pathway to addiction that eventually led to tragedy when what he thought was a Percocet turned out to contain a lethal dose of fentanyl.

Kelly doesn't hold back as she shares the raw truth about addiction's grip and the desperate struggle for recovery. She speaks candidly about treatment attempts, the challenges of Vivitrol therapy, and the overwhelming statistics facing families: childhood cancer survivors are five times more likely to fill opiate prescriptions, while only 3% of people with addiction disorders fully recover. Most importantly, she challenges us to reframe how we talk about these deaths—not as overdoses, but as poisonings and drug-induced homicides.

This episode shatters misconceptions about addiction and forces us to confront uncomfortable truths about our healthcare system, border security, and the stigma that prevents proper treatment. Kelly's powerful advocacy reminds us that behind every statistic is someone's child who didn't want to die, who had dreams and ambitions cut short by a preventable tragedy. Her message is clear: we must stop the stigma, change our language, and demand better from our systems before more lives are lost. Listen, share, and join the conversation that could save someone you love.

The Fatal Facts of Fentanyl podcast is dedicated to raising Awareness to the illicit FENTANYL crisis hitting the USA.

The goal is to SAVE LIVES and families from this travesty.

Awareness and Education are the Key.
Knowledge is Power!