#017 A Mother's Heartbreak: Losing Sons to Addiction and Murder

In this powerful and raw episode of Living on Incline, host John Eklund sits down with Freida MacDonald for an unfiltered look at the devastating reality of the American opioid crisis.Freida MacDonald spent 30 years as a high-level banking executive while raising her two sons as a single mother. They were the "Three Musketeers" - until a prescription for ADHD medication in kindergarten opened a door that could never be closed.Freida tracks the "perfect storm" that led her son from prescription stimulants to the street, eventually resulting in his homicide. But the tragedy didn't stop there. She details the harrowing fallout of the Sackler family’s legacy and the subsequent loss of her second son, Michael, to the crushing weight of grief and the fentanyl epidemic.This is a masterclass in resilience and a stark warning to every parent about the ADHD-to-Opioid pipeline and the predatory nature of Big Pharma.EPISODE TIMESTAMPS00:00 - Intro: Meet Freida MacDonald00:41 - Why I Wear Purple: Overdose Awareness01:22 - The "K-N-O-W Hope" Mission04:13 - Meeting the Three Musketeers: Steven & Michael06:38 - Life as a Single Mom & A Career in Banking09:36 - The ADHD Diagnosis: A Turning Point12:02 - The Stimulant Trap: "He Wasn’t Himself"14:26 - The Sackler Family & The Opioid Explosion19:19 - Early Warning Signs of the Crisis26:25 - The Struggle with Prescription Medications33:47 - Reaching the Breaking Point40:11 - The Homicide Detective in My Living Room 44:10 - The Unfiltered Truth About Steven’s Death50:04 - Launching the First Homicide Support Group53:39 - Losing Michael: The Unbearable Weight of Grief55:33 - One Pill Can Kill: The Fentanyl Danger01:02:01 - Roxy, Pain, and the Descent into Addiction01:12:29 - The Final Tragedy & The Need for Change01:16:47 - Turning Pain into Purpose: The Path to Recovery01:19:49 - Living on Incline: Moving Upward01:25:17 - A Final Message of Hope & How to Support the MissionSUPPORT FREIDA MACDONALD’S MISSIONVisit: https://knowhopenc.com/K-N-O-W Hope.ABOUT LIVING ON INCLINEHosted by John Eklund, we bring you the most powerful, unfiltered stories of individuals who have climbed life's steepest hills and refused to stop. This is a journey through recovery, resilience, and the strength of the human spirit.Subscribe to the channel and hit the bell icon to be notified of every new episode.Listen and Follow Living on InclineListen on your favorite platform:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/living-on-incline/id1828304603Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78HwNrRWZHGAHL8Zv90nO0?si=e4b5d032e9214debYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZdyfS2K4OE4WFJRWSuAgsQRSS Feed: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2521959.rssWebsite: https://www.livingonincline.comSponsored by Recovery AliveLiving on Incline is proudly sponsored by Recovery Alive, a Christ-centered recovery program helping people find hope, healing, and purpose through authentic community and biblical transformation.Learn more: https://www.recoveryalive.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/recoveryaliveinc/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/recoveryaliveincYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@recoveryalive#LivingOnIncline #JohnEklund #OpioidEpidemic #ADHD #BigPharma #TrueCrime #AddictionRecovery #Grief #OverdoseAwareness #FentanylCrisis #Resilience #SacklerFamily #PodcastSend us Fan Mail