FENTANYL KILLS - Kelson Dingel's Story - episode 230

This deeply emotional interview, recorded in Arizona, is a mother's raw and powerful reflection on the life and loss of her son, Kelson, whose brilliance, wit, and intensity were matched by the struggles he faced with bipolar disorder and addiction. From childhood, Kelson was described as fiercely independent, intelligent, and difficult to manage—"a pain in the ass," but always uniquely himself. As he grew older, untreated mental health issues led to self-medication, drug use, and eventually addiction that spiraled into a cycle of treatment, relapse, crime, incarceration, and recovery attempts. Despite moments of hope and progress, Kelson’s battle with addiction ultimately led to his tragic and lonely death from fentanyl in 2023. His mother recounts the pain of watching her son suffer, the guilt of missed opportunities, and the devastating impact addiction has not only on the individual but on families left behind. Through her grief, she passionately advocates for compassion, awareness, and the removal of stigma around addiction—urging society to remember that behind every addict is someone’s deeply loved child. Learn more about the organization Arizona Families Fighting Illicit Drugs at www.affid.org Illicit fentanyl is a dangerous, life-threatening drug frequently found in other illicit drugs and results in the death of 200 people per day in the US. This is just one of those stories and delivers an urgent warning to avoid all illicit drugs. To use this or any other Texas Pictures documentary at high schools or in other educational applications, contact Texas Pictures through our website at www.texas-pictures.com. If you have a story you'd like to share, learn more about the process and reach out to us at our website - https://www.texas-pictures.com/Share.html Naloxone, the active ingredient in 4mg Narcan and higher dose 8mg Kloxxado, along with many generic versions, can reverse an opioid overdose if administered quickly enough. Some areas have Naloxone available for free. Google it. In the U.S., you can easily access 24/7 emotional support. Call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org/chat to connect with a caring counselor.