Confronting the Opioid Crisis: A Firsthand Account of the Devastation and the Path Forward with Louis Jenkins

Breakfast of Choices

On today’s episode of Breakfast of Choices, I share my conversation with my good friend Lou Jenkins. I knew his story would resonate with many of our listeners. Lou opened up about the devastating loss of his daughter, who passed away from a fentanyl-laced cocaine overdose at the age of 34. As a parent, Lou described the heartbreaking experience of seeing the changes in his daughter's behavior and mannerisms before her tragic death. He shared the overwhelming grief of burying his oldest child while also preparing for his youngest son's wedding, all within the span of a week. Lou's story is a powerful testament to the impact of addiction and the lasting trauma it can leave on families.
Lou spoke candidly about the intrusive thoughts, feelings of hopelessness, and near-death experience he faced while grappling with his grief. However, he also found solace in sharing his story on social media and connecting with others who have experienced similar losses. Throughout our conversation, we discussed the importance of mental health, the challenges of self-love and opening up to love again, and the need for genuine support from friends and loved ones. We both emphasized the healing power of sharing one's story and the importance of men being vulnerable and expressing their emotions without fear of judgment.
Lou's resilience and determination to find purpose in his pain is truly inspiring. I'm grateful he was willing to open up and share his story with us. By sharing these stories, we can help break the stigma surrounding addiction, grief, and mental health, and provide hope and support to those who need it most.

From Rock Bottom to Rock Solid.
We all have them...every single day, we wake up, we have the chance to make new choices.
We have the power to make our own daily, "Breakfast of Choices"
Resources and ways to connect:

Facebook: Jo Summers
Instagram: @Summersjol
Facebook Support: Chance For Change Women’s circle
National suicide prevention and crisis, hotline number 988
National domestic violence hotline:
800–799–7233
National hotline for substance abuse, and addiction:
844–289–0879
National mental health hotline:
866–903–3787
National child health and child abuse hotline:
800–422–4454
CoDa.org
12. Step recovery program for codependency.

Capitoli

1. Confronting the Opioid Crisis: A Firsthand Account of the Devastation and the Path Forward with Louis Jenkins (00:00:00)

2. Life Stories of Transformation (00:00:07)

3. Navigating Loss and Finding Hope (00:16:23)

4. The Impact of Addiction and Loss (00:31:03)

5. Embracing Vulnerability and Healing (00:45:18)

6. Building Connections Through Transformative Stories (00:53:48)