Life After Losing My 3 Children, My Sister, and My Parents, Moving in With My Dealer, and Living Under a Bridge With My Husband

Candice grew up surrounded by addiction and loss. Both parents drank heavily, and by 11, she had lost her mom. Her dad died soon after, and by 19, most of her family was gone, including her sister, who was killed in a murder-suicide. She became a single mother at 16, and by 21, she had three kids. After her third child, heroin addiction and painkillers took over her life. She lost custody—her daughters went to live with an aunt, and her son entered the court system—while she lived with dealers and cycled through addiction and pill mills.She eventually entered state-funded treatment at Santa Maria, detoxed off Suboxone, and met her husband there. They later relapsed together, ending up homeless and living under a bridge. After pursuing sobriety and quitting heroin, Candice was diagnosed with degenerative disc disease, which her doctor told her was caused by IV heroin use.Determined to rebuild, she committed to addiction recovery, fought to regain custody, completed drug testing, and began paying back child support—choosing responsibility even without full reunification. Over time, she turned her experience into purpose, helping open and manage treatment centers and joining The Last Resort to support others in recovery.Now a grandmother with two grandkids, Candice is steady in long-term recovery and present in her family’s lives. GUESTCandice HarrellCandice is a Business Development Representative at The Last Resort, where she brings deep empathy and real-world experience to helping others find their path to recovery. Having overcome her own struggles with addiction and homelessness, she’s turned her past into purpose—connecting individuals and families to treatment with compassion, honesty, and hope. Connect with Candice on LinkedInFollow The Last Resort Recovery on Instagram @last_resort_recoveryMatt Handy is the founder of Harmony Grove Behavioral Health in Houston, Texas, where their mission is to provide compassionate, evidence-based care for anyone facing addiction, mental health challenges, and co-occurring disorders.Find out more at harmonygrovebh.com  My Last Relapse explores what everyone is thinking but no one is saying about addiction and recovery through conversations with those whose lives have changed.For anyone disillusioned with traditional recovery and feeling left out, misunderstood, or weighed down by unrealistic expectations, this podcast looks ahead—rejecting the lies and dogma that keep people from imagining life without using.Got a question for us? Leave us a message or voicemail at mylastrelapse.comFind us on YouTube @MyLastRelapse and follow Matt on Instagram @matthew.handy.17About Harmony Grove Behavioral Health Harmony Grove delivers outpatient addiction and mental health treatment focused on wellness, creativity, and authentic human connection—providing a supportive space for healing that extends beyond traditional clinical care.Harmony Grove’s IOP in Houston, Texas, is more than a program; it’s a lifeline for those ready to take the next step in their recovery. We are ready to meet you where you are and find your unique path to change. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or struggling, you don’t have to face it alone. Reaching out for support is a sign of strength, and help is always available. If you or anyone you know needs help, give us a call 24 hours a day at 844-430-3060.Host: Matthew HandyProducer: Eva SheieAssistant Producers: Mary Ellen Clarkson & Hannah BurkhartEngineering: Voltage FM, Spencer ClarksonTheme music: Survive The Tide, Machina AeonCover Art:  DMARKMy Last Relapse is a production of Kind Creative: kindcreative.comQuestions this episode answers:How does IV heroin use destroy spinal discs and why do doctors miss it until it's too late?What does degenerative disc disease look like when it hits a former high school athlete in recovery?Why are soma and muscle relaxants particularly dangerous for opioid addicts?What are the long-term physical consequences of heroin addiction that nobody talks about?How do you manage chronic pain in recovery without relapsing on the very drugs that caused the damage?