What does "rock bottom" really mean when you love a child in active addiction?

In this episode of the Do What You Can Live With podcast, I sit down with Melissa Ledesma, a mother who lost her daughter, Angel, to a cocaine overdose in 2023. Not fentanyl. Not opioids. Cocaine.

Melissa shares the truth about grief that lingers years later, the shock of reading an autopsy report that did not match public assumptions, and what it actually looks like to love a child through addiction without abandoning them to shame or isolation.

We talk about stimulant overdoses, harm reduction, sibling dynamics, trauma, and the painful myth that families must step away to force change. This is an honest conversation for parents, caregivers, and anyone carrying grief that does not move on a timeline.

Content note: This episode discusses overdose, child loss, and grief.

In this episode:

• What "rock bottom" really looks like for families

• Cocaine and stimulant overdoses without opioids

• Why Narcan does not reverse stimulant overdoses

• Harm reduction, MAT, and what Melissa wishes she knew sooner

• Loving your child without losing yourself

Resources & Links:

• Melissa on TikTok: @the.real.melissa

• Melissa on Facebook: Melissa Ledesma

• Do What You Can Live With by Brandi Mac (Amazon)

• Family resources and support: brandimac.com

If this episode resonated, consider subscribing and leaving a review. It helps other families find conversations like this when they need them most.