They Thought It Couldn’t Happen

When You Think It Can’t Happen to You

Inconvenient Fact: Opioid overdoses don’t only happen to “troubled kids.” They happen to good students. To close-knit families. To kids like Dylan.

Rachael’s son Dylan wasn’t who most people picture when they hear “drug overdose.” He was a national-level athlete. An Eagle Scout. A strong student with a tight group of longtime friends and a close bond with his family. He wasn’t a troublemaker and didn’t struggle with his grades. But one night, everything changed.

First came a car crash after sneaking out and drinking with friends. Rachael and her husband were shocked—but tried to chalk it up to teenage risk-taking. A mistake, sure. But one they thought he could bounce back from.

Then, just a week later, they found Dylan passed out in the bathroom after using drugs he bought via Snapchat. They rushed him to the ER where he was put in a medically-induced coma. He had cocaine, Adderall, marijuana, and alcohol in his system. It was only later they realized that any one of those substances could have been laced with fentanyl. That night could have ended his life.

Dylan recovered. He is going to therapy. He finished probation. He’s starting college with a clean slate. But his story isn’t over—and it’s not uncommon. His family now faces the hard work of rebuilding trust, setting new boundaries, and staying one step ahead of risk. And like many parents in their position, Rachael knows that even with progress, the worry doesn’t go away. She’ll be on alert—watching for signs, hoping for stability, and doing everything she can to keep him moving forward.