Family Lost Two Sons To Opioid Overdose Draws Attention To Prescription Drugs | Megyn Kelly TODAY

A family who lost two sons to a deadly combination of oxycodone and alcohol made it their mission to teach other teenagers about the dangers of opioid and prescription drug abuse. They joined Megyn Kelly to talk about their work with the 525 Foundation.
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Family Lost Two Sons To Opioid Overdose Draws Attention To Prescription Drugs | Megyn Kelly TODAY

[@chriswright8464]

I just lost my son to heroin addiction, 10 years of treatment, Christ, I miss every day.

[@PauliePinch13]

Chris Wright I’m really sorry to hear this, I really am.

[@sleepyhead8681]

I'm so sorry.

[@merk.9285]

@@himynameisandri so sorry to hear about the loss of your boyfriend. I struggle with opiate addiction currently and have been since 2014. I'm turning 25 in a couple weeks from today and I just dont want to die.. I've overdosed before more than once resulting in hospital stay. One time not remembering ever being at the hospital..just waking up at home but with a hospital wrist band on. I cant put my family through the heartache again. My brother already left earth because of an overdose occurring from a small combination of medications including methadone. Which I am currently struggling to quit as I've been on it since 2016. Got off last year finally but then relapsed and voluntarily went back on to try to clean back up but I havent been able to get back off it now. Started back up in december 2020. Currently at 60mg..had got to 50 but it felt horribly low. So I raised back up to 60/ I was originally at 85mg.

[@jettsetgirl]

@@merk.9285 How are you doing sweetheart? It’s been 6 months since your comment.. If you are Still struggling reach out - don’t quit before the miracle!!! You CAN do it

[@jettsetgirl]

Im so sorry.. I want you to know that before EVERY recovery meeting we take a moment of silence to remember those who this disease stole from the world.. we do this all over the world .. In AA & NA - Many addicts come from loving homes , some from brutal ones .. it’s a disease that affects every type of person .. if you have never been to an Al-Anon meeting I truly believe it would help you , it’s a support group they have meetings on zoom.. & in person , they are in every city ..

[@natillefox1]

My heart breaks 😢for this father, I remember my dad screaming in pain for hours when my brother died, he was 19 and my dad's only son. My father hasn't been the same since, he still has us 5 daughters but my brother left a massive whole in my dad's heart. Sometimes I wish I can go get my brother so that dad has someone to drive the truck with him, he's always crying and he's lost alot of weight over it. 😢😢😢 God help this father!!!!

[@karenkramer3760]

I'm praying for your dad. I lost a son too, not to drugs but an illness.

[@cdm94]

I lost my brother at 19 to a car accident. We were the only two kids. I can relate to feeling the pain, of seeing the pain in my parents faces. Its horrible

[@jackiedavison9898]

Bless you all.

[@cdm94]

@Mark Stewger ????? I was relating to the person above who also had a brother who died at 19, and the only son in the family.

[@bluewavefilmsandmusic]

OMG

[@aveleedeleon7694]

Both of them?!! And on the SAME NIGHT?!!!! Dear God, please bless and bring comfort to those parents. I could not even imagine the pain.

[@geoffreyholliday1971]

It was the alcohol they mixed it with. Lethal combination

[@taniesha64]

Very handsome boys, so sorry for your lost. I have 2 boys couldn't imagine losing them.

[@mv5203]

If you are a good parent and teach your children correctly, you don't have to worry about this kind of thing happening. The drugs didn't jump in the kids mouth while they were at soccer practice. Your hair rocks by the way.

[@dieradaielle]

m v not true by any means, fantastic parents talk to their children constantly and try to raise them with plenty of knowledge and sometimes it doesn't matter. Same as teen pregnancy. Talk until you can't breathe and guess when, your 17 year old daughter is pregnant. Drugs don't discriminate.

[@DMus-qd8gk]

very dead.............also. they aint comin back

[@susieq8008]

@@mv5203 These folks are good pzrents... shut up !

[@lilli9822]

I think many parents are good but give too easily money to their children thinking they learn how to manage them, but free money is not a good idea especially if a kid have too much times in their hands.

[@brenweavis]

The mom came to my school today to talk about this

[@perlanieblas5357]

same

[@jackdagod208]

Perla Nieblas when did urs come

[@perlanieblas5357]

@@jackdagod208 today

[@jackdagod208]

Perla Nieblas mine came last week. We saw this video. What grade are u in

[@perlanieblas5357]

@@jackdagod208 freshman and you

[@lindyvejar5678]

My son is an addict and lives on the streets - sadly he has access to medical intervention programs. The feeling is hopeless

[@juliagulia5823]

I’m sorry to hear that. Praying for your son.

[@tslavens3092]

How did the brothers only die and not their friends?

[@mallorybarnosky7628]

They lived right by me and now every time I see them in the store or out and about it breaks my heart

[@bryansmith5279]

So sorry for your loss...unimaginable....thank-you for sharing and educating others.

[@tiffanyeulalah4781]

This is so sad.. I was an addict for 22 years and now help addicts recover and this is an epidemic I help more opioid addicts than all the other drugs combined

[@IndieVixen101]

Poor family. My heart breaks for them. I found my uncle the same way on the floor 6 months ago, and I too had to perform CPR on him. The pain is unimaginable.

[@lisajordan8502]

No daddy! They wouldn't have listened..I talked to my boy all the time about drugs and he still died from drugs...Im so sorry for your loss..It's is definitely your worst nightmare coming true.

[@pamelatriggs7324]

Very sorry for your loss.

[@lisajordan8502]

Pamela Triggs Thank you! Almost 3 years for me..It's a sorrow that never goes away..

[@kdawson8981]

I am so sorry for your loss. 😢 I have two kids and my oldest just turned 20 two days ago. I’ve been trying to find her the last week to celebrate her bday with her. She’s on drugs living with her drug dealer bf. I wake up in the middle of the night worrying almost every night.

[@antoniomolina8259]

I just lost my son to opiods . He was 26 . The pain is very brutal 😢

[@lisajordan8502]

@@antoniomolina8259 I'm so sorry yes it's brutal it's your worst nightmare coming true the pain is gut-wrenching soul ripping. We will never be the same again working through the stages of grief is a lonely journey.. will always miss our children..

[@lola47022]

This is heartbreaking beyond words.

[@stancexpunks]

Most opioid ODs are not from opioids alone. It’s mostly when it’s combined with alcohol.

[@HughMadBro]

stancexpunks or benzodiazepines.

[@jojober1980]

yes you are 100% correct, usually mixed with other drugs like Benzos or alcohol, deadly combo's

[@meeshy-jl9ow]

all my od's came from painkillers mixed w zanex. i tried to jump outta a car at 70 mph on zanex... i od'd on a plane to hawaii on zanex....

[@ilovesteveclark6084]

@@meeshy-jl9ow Never NEVER EVER take benzos with opiods...they compete for superiority, and the Benzo always wins. It is due to how the brain reacts.

[@ilovesteveclark6084]

Or benzos

[@annalucy89]

Losing two children in the same night, Jesus Christ! I can't even imagine the pain of losing one! I don't even understand how they're all still standing! They're heroes in my mind for trying to turn this into awareness. We have the same epidemic here in Iceland. We don't have heroin in this country but multiple people and kids are dying every year because of Oxy overdose or any other morphine related drugs. I have an 11 year old daughter and this frightens me every day to think that she could go this route since addiction runs deep in my family, I myself have been clean little over 2 years now and this was my drug of choice, my brother's also a user and not clean so these kind of stories always effect my deeply.

[@acstone3048]

My mom is a quadriplegic... and has had many spine surgeries and has lived with chronic pain for decades. She’s now in the ICU from a accidental overdose of Norco. She is in a coma. She’s 65 not 20.. not 30.. Addiction or accidental overdose can happen to anyone . Not just what we think of as the picture of what a addict is.

[@pamkou]

This is profoundly sad. However why is nobody reporting on what this epidemic is doing to Chronic Pain Sufferers? I can no longer get any help. I can no longer get out of bed. Most days I wish I was dead! Yes control the supply but do not punish those who need them.

[@maggie_o5233]

Try kratom works just as well

[@BGLYNcH420EBK]

Don't drink while on painkillers. It wasn't just the pills it was both combined stopped their hearts. You don't mix those it's a deadly combo. I lost a friend in 2011 to mixing opioids with booze. He went to sleep in his computer chair using his computer and his parents found him dead in the morning. Its wierd still seeing his profile on steam and Facebook and wondering where he would've been now.

[@juliagulia5823]

These parents are in total shock. God bless them boys they still have.

[@gidgethrobowski3860]

My heart goes out to this family, I am so sorry. I want to try and assist others because God saved my life. This is killing our kids and it needs to stop. Again, so sorry, it brings tears to my eyes.

[@Stinder]

One of the saddest stories I have ever seen! Good parents talk to their kids about weed, booze, etc, etc...but sometimes prescription pills get left out!

[@kdawson8981]

I wish I could give both the parents a big hug. I wish I could thank them for fighting through their grief to help stop this from happening to anyone else.

[@mv5203]

Maybe if they had taught their children correctly, this wouldn't have happened. Oh wait, of course it wouldn't have happened. Ever heard the term, closing the barn door after the cow got out?????

[@karenhardie1132]

People without teenagers blame the parents. Kids lie and hide what they are doing with friends. Sometimes nothing works being strict or lenient or in the middle. They don't think about consequences only wanting to fit in with peers.

[@IndigoRoses7]

Omg...how DEVASTATING..hugs to the parents, I cannot imagine

[@annlanders978]

The danger is the COMBINATION of a painkiller and alcohol. I hate these kinds of discussions because the truth is distorted. People with legitimate pain issues who NEED strong painkillers but who are responsible about it are being hurt by all this. Just ask anybody who is taking strong painkillers. They will tell you that everybody has gone crazy and it is very difficult to get the medication they need. Many doctors won't give it anymore and there aren't that many pain management specialists around. Again innocent people are getting hurt because of the reckless few. Nobody ever says what the alternative should be. YOU trying dealing with serious pain without medication and let me know how you feel and how you sleep (or rather DON'T sleep) etc.

[@mrsdabney09]

Yes!!! I have Lupus, Crohns disease, and many other issues. It took me over a year, after we moved, to find someone to give me pain medicine. It was horrible. I am so responsible with it, and I always have many left over each month.

[@jojober1980]

agree 100%, it is hurting ppl who are in "REAL Legitimate PAIN" daily!

[@PS-qn4oz]

Medical marijuana

[@sonicvasquez4673]

@Machiavelli ..They were also ALCOHOLICS the parents never bring up ..Why were they allowed to drink..Oh because it's so cool.

[@annlanders978]

How do you know that?

[@sm3296]

It is every parents nightmare. I too have lost two sons to opioids. My two middle sons, both gentle, big hearts, loving to me. Gone.

[@turb0muffinz0rz]

Tragic, good family friends of ours lost to such a terrible epidemic. Glad to see the family speaking out though...

[@mv5203]

Thi isn't something you 'catch'. It was a decision made by children who weren't taught correctly by the parents.

[@ElaineSamuela]

@@mv5203 Their parents didn't know in advance that their sons were going to be offered opioids and alcohol.

[@ColonizersBlow]

Not even one minute in & I am tearing up. In every child you see your own children...The thought of losing one (or both!) of my kids is beyond painful. My heart goes out to them.

[@kelliborg4090]

Helena Such a moving comment you made. Bless you🙏

[@carlvlaeminck2171]

My grandfather used to say always that losing his daughter (my mother) felt worse than losing his wife (my grandmother) My grandfather lost his wife and five years later his daughter. I was 25 when my mother died. She was only 49. In 2017 I lost my father to cancer and 16 months later my aunt (dad's sister) And in between I lost my best friend to cancer. She was only 33. Grief is hard. I am a sensitive man and it hasn't been easy. January 2020 is already the 30th anniversary of mom's passing. Looking at the strenght of two parents who lost their two sons on the same day and what message they bring to students in colleges and universities is astonishing. It will most likely help them tremendously to heal becausing it is all a healing process.

[@thereseember2800]

Unimaginable devastating losses.

[@coll4455]

My heart hurts for the brother. I lost my older brother to an overdose and siblings are often called the forgot mourners. I hope he is getting a much help as he needs to get through this.

[@branevans3705]

The comments are so heartbreaking. As a mom of a daughter who had opiate addiction disease, I can relate. Fortunately, she did not overdose-or she didn't die from an overdose because I have no clue if she did experience an overdose. She told me she hadn't. I'm not gonna lie, her addiction traumatized me to no end. Several of her friends passed from an overdose. Just awful. She is doing great now-I pray that continues. Parents: just remember, it is NOT your fault. Also know, showing love and care for your child with addiction disease is ok. I'm not sure I fully agree with the tough love thing.

[@mgparis]

I can't even imagine the parents' pain.... may God help them!

[@ToddiusMaximus]

Our prayers for each of you!!

[@markprange238]

Since before their teen years they each heard plenty of warnings. They knew not to do opioids; they WANTED to do them. --Not the parents' fault. --NO one else's fault.

[@KevMac58]

So sorry for the familys of this. Awful thing. Love you guys...

[@senniewhite6301]

*This is tragic!*

[@ilovesteveclark6084]

Forgive me for this, but I do not believe that the parents did not know how much oxycodone was in each boy's system. That is a law to measure the amount by obtaining a blood specimen. And a person will not die from taking one pill. But, if indeed it was extended release, the chance becomes a possibility...but even so, it is rarely just "one." I'm sorry.

[@martinwilton8118]

heartbreaking

[@jojober1980]

Beyond Heartbreaking, my sincere condolences to this family, cannot even imagine their pain :( opiods and alcohol or benzo's do not mix!!!

[@kelseyk530]

I took legally prescribed benzo with an opioid...no problem.

[@dondressel4802]

I can’t even imagine!!! Losing one son is bad enough but two

[@jessicasuzanne___]

That's so sad!😞😞😞😞

[@Thekingking17]

This is so sad looks like 2 very bright and popular young men , my heart goes out to the Family and everyone affected. I couldn't imagine losing 2 family members esp the oldest siblings. I dont care race religion, socio economic background this is awful and the drug wasnt even one of the worst opioids. So sad 😪

[@cjpv1972]

Same mix that killed a baseball player back in July 2019...so sad.

[@ellioshiem7892]

gosh.....so so sorry for them. beautiful boys.....

[@bass13mary]

My daughter is a mess heroin, methadone, pills, car accidents, drives drunk. Went ivy League on a full scholarship, cheerleader, dancer. Now high 24 hrs

[@marythompson3658]

bass13mary I have 1 of those2....its a nightmare......

[@cocochick3612]

Not fair to parents to have too see their children destroy their lives. So sorry Mom

[@roisindubh02]

bass13mary :So sorry

[@claudiawild6284]

Very sorry for your loss.....I had a friend who lost one son to heroin overdose and the other son was in ICU but survived. Very shocking, these boys also played hockey. Becky, your hair is gorgeous.

[@Theonenottoplaywith]

This is way to much my heart ♥️ can’t take it

[@missyelle2749]

I wish there was this same push for all the millions of families who lost loved ones from the Crack Cocaine epidemic that plagued so many many innocent lives

[@KevMac58]

So sorry for your family. So sorry.

[@kanchana.r6330]

To lose one but both?? RIP to both of them 🙏

[@laurahuber379]

My heart breaks for this family. And this story plays out over this country every day. Prescription pain killers are also the gateway to heroin addiction for so many. So sorry for this family’s loss. Thank you for turning such a horrible tragedy into something positive to help others.

[@jgonzales912]

Becky is so pretty.

[@plumisland1070]

I agree. She's beautiful.

[@vala8494]

My heart goes out to the young boy especially. It's painful in many ways. The parents didn't lose all thier children, but he lost all his siblings.

[@LifeWithAllOfUs]

Love sent

[@kimmariemarrero9727]

I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia was given tramadol for pain ammitrioptiline the pain got worse ..then my kids had to care for me and themselves ..so sad

[@pamdavis5374]

I'm so sorry... prayers

[@phillipsmom6252]

Oh please. That was not the first time those boys took drugs. And no one smelled alcohol on them ? Yeah right. Something weird about the mother.

[@_MDR4]

Horrifying just horrifying. KEEP drugs away ALWAYS TALK TO YOUR KIDS!!!!! ABOUT THE REALTY OF LIFE!!!

[@bethphillips5997]

How about paying attention to the son you still have, who is behaving well? Stop focusing, as always, on the ones who screwed up.

[@leadevotion]

I lost my sister. She was beautiful. Please help addicts. They just want someone to love them.

[@senoraantero2836]

So sad.. my heart goes out to the family

[@tashadenise9400]

Of course she would call a drug addict a DRUGGY

[@jaidahplaza5041]

She went and spoke at my school about this

[@SM-kk4rx]

Drugs have no preference! They don’t care if the users are honor roll students, doctors, students... etc it can happen to anyone

[@trishelmelancon2364]

How could she not tell if they had alcohol and pain meds in their systems? That seems unreal to me.

[@elena4875]

Ahh we watched this in school, and I’m glad we did. It happens to even the smartest of them. I almost lost my cousin to an overdose. He’d always been really intelligent and I’d never expect it to be him. He was about to finish college when I found out. Luckily, he’s doing fine now.

[@mooneyes2781]

this story...both sons...I just cannot comprehend...

[@mfl1032]

Opioids is a horrible epidemic, I know because I’ve seen so many people die from it! We need more treatment, not shame for this Disease! We need more free clinics treatment, most people don’t have insurance, so with that being said how can they get help!?

[@maggie_o5233]

Omg im so sorry 😭 Beyond tragic. Cool surname

[@nikkic0509]

So sad both of their sons on the same night with the circumstances. If I didn’t see this for myself, I’d have a hard time believing it. I wonder if the boys, being brothers, had some kind of allergic reaction to the opioids or the combination of both the opioids and alcohol. Obviously if the boys had taken a substantial amount of either, their Mom would have notice. Especially since both opioids and alcohol are downers. I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be disrespectful, it’s just so heart breaking that this happened to both sleeping in their own beds. My heart goes out to this family. #525

[@katzriverz218]

I would like to say it is the combination, I have chronic pain and have some pain killers yet I never have that rotten drug alcohol and I've been just fine lets get rid of alcohol,oh no think of all the taxes you will lose

[@coll4455]

My god. I’m so sorry

[@bernadettechavira5399]

Such a terrible story sorry for your loss of 2 handsome young men

[@Ustoplooking2]

Well first of all if they were so smart they wouldn't have done any drugs and this wasnt thier first time you couldn't tell they took anything because you believe they wouldn't but this gets me they weren't forced to take anything so at this point you as a parent shouldn't said what your kids wouldn't do when your not around mom knew about the epidemic seeung that she is a nurse

[@fukurfeelings9711]

My G-D I can’t even begin to imagine

[@mattguiterez5622]

I am shocked & replied to Andrea Kaes inconsiderate& shameful comment. People should not comment if they have nothing positive or kind to say. They lost 2 children!! Any parent can not even imagine the pain & strength it took to even talk about this...3 comments down, i admire these parents for bringing awareness& regardless if it wasn't the 1st time, they are saying it just takes one time. So how about educating your children on drugs & not judging how parents choose to remember their children& also addiction doesn't discriminate, ppl do. So instead of teaching hate, teach the dangers of drug use.

[@ellioshiem7892]

I agree with you x

[@maileevyne5000]

How painful.... To lose two kids in one night 😢😭

[@Laura-pi6ht]

Why aren't you going after the alcohol industry also. Please say it was a combination of alcohol and pain pills. How awful. One mistake, it wasn't your fault. They made one bad decision. I wonder who was responsible for giving them the pills. I bet they feel horrible for the rest of their lives.

[@annlanders978]

I would like to know why these "wonderful" boys took the Oxycodone in the first place?

[@trishwintour4597]

If a child wants to take drugs nothing a parent has said would help or make a difference

[@vampire1111pitbull]

If drug companies were to start paying the Government the same amount of taxes and kickbacks that Alcohol Manufacturers do. There would be no war on opioids.

[@ladysmith7747]

I ma sorry that thus happened in their family. However, if she was a single mom, not white, kids did not play sports they would not have had this forum. Also, my guess is that is not the first time that they drank or took drugs.

[@bonnieplastino4923]

ITS HORRIBLE. IM SO SORRY FOR THIS . PLEASE DONT TAKE THIS THE WRONG WAY MEDICAL MEDS ARE VERY DIFFERENT FOR PATIENTS WITH HORRIBLE DISEASE. ABD THISE PATIENTS CANT RA LMN E ANYTHING ELSE BUT OPIODS URS A DIFFERENT .PATIENTS ARE EDUCATED AND EDUCATED ON HOW TO TAKE CARE OF OUR SICKNESS. KIDS OUT IN THE WIRKD ARE STEALING AND GETTING DRUGS FROM THE STREETS OR DRUG DEALERS . OR ANY DRUG THAT WE PATIENTS ARE BEING POINTED AT. WE PATIENTS ARE NIT ON STREET CORNERS THISE ARE STOLEN DRUGS AND STREET STUFF

[@jackieostrander7199]

I can't believe she didn't know about drug. .. being a nurse.. a good parent always hopes 4 best.. expects the worst

[@heathercloete7450]

Prescription drugs are extremely addictive and dangerous, and too freely given to patients. I'm in recovery from alcoholism and prescription drugs .9 years and 9 months now. Best thing that ever happened to me. Sadly at age 38, 7 years ago, my daughter died from mixing prescription meds till her respiratory system could not cope and her heart stopped. I had tried to help her but to no avail. I'm so sorry for your loss. It is devastating. 💔

[@miliraj100]

So sad

[@sugarman08]

I just hate to say this but drugs have been around ever since I could remember Junkies crackheads we're part of life in New York City. The thing was you had to go to the hood to get you drugs back then and now they get delivered to your house in the suburbs can not outrun it and that's the lesson

[@ginajoseph8776]

I can see on their faces they were starting to get high in those photos when they were getting older. Very nice people, but they were oblivious.

[@helenal.7881]

The mom has beautiful hair.

[@madisonfritz9561]

I’m obviously a little late to the video and obviously this is a horrible tragedy however being someone who has chronic pain and also suffers with anxiety, I now have to make a choice between being in pain or not being able to take medicine when I have a panic attack because of people abusing these medications. The laws that are being put into place may be saving SOME people from overdoses, but are hurting people who are in real pain. I’m not able to get out of bed some days whereas just a few years ago I could take something and could be a productive member of society.

[@kelseyk530]

Exactly! Me too. Have been on high doses of Xanax for 14 years and took it with Ambien for 10 years as well as Vicodin for 2 years before a Dr committed patient abandonment and left m3 cold turkey. Can't get any pain management Dr's to prescribe. Was told by only one Dr who would possibly give me pain meds that I'd have to get off of my benzo in order to get pain meds. I shouldn't have to choose just because I hace many incurable chronic pain problems, acute anxiety and PTSD, and insomnia.

[@kimdelk1181]

So sad. These painkillers are worse in many ways then harsh drugs bc they are gateway drugs n ppl think theyre safe but theyre not n mix them with alcohol or other things n die.

[@tristanmason7405]

Practice with one eye covered?

[@elenitamoraleda2548]

Methadone maintenance suppresses opiate craving.

[@patkakrol2768]

Very well....this is a consequenses to take drugs.

[@muffs55mercury61]

As long as doctors (particularly dentists) keep getting kickbacks from the drug companies to keep prescribing that poison then this will continue to happen. Their only concern is money and being rich. A dentist tried prescribing it to me when I had a tooth pulled and I burned the pills instead.

[@annlanders978]

Something is wrong with young people today. Boys like this go to parties with all kinds of drugs? Why? When I was growing up there were NO drugs at parties. If the parents are so wonderful why are these kinds of kids messing with prescription medication in the first place. That is the PROBLEM. Go after these kids and their parents. Don't go after legitimate medication that other people need and use responsibly.

[@queensupporter7874]

Hand some boys

[@abhijeetabhi8037]

😭😭my god

[@markprange238]

In the case of self-infliction, an overdose victim is to blame.