193: Travis Bornstein: Battling Addiction After His Son's Fentanyl Overdose193: Travis Bornstein: Battling Addiction After His Son's Fentanyl Overdose
The Courage to Change: A Recovery Podcast
Travis Bornstein is the father of Tyler who died at age 23 of a Fentanyl overdose. Tyler had been successful in school and sports, but injury and the subsequent surgeries brought on an addiction to opioids which eventually moved to heroin. This began 6 years of addiction and relapse. The family did everything it could to provide a path to recovery, but eventually Tyler ended up with Heroin laced with Fentanyl. The person he was using with panicked, and left him to die in a vacant lot. The immense grief overwhelmed Travis and his family. It was his daughters that found the first outlet for their grief by bringing Tyler’s story to their school and starting Hope United, their answer to the plague that had taken their brother.
57:54•18 Jul 2023
Turning Grief into Action: A Father's Fight Against the Opioid Crisis
Episode Overview
- Travis Bornstein's son battled a six-year struggle with heroin addiction and relapse
- The family's grief led to the creation of Hope United, addressing the drug epidemic
- Establishment of Tyler's Redemption Place, a recovery community organization
- Travis and his family's commitment to transforming tragedy into change is both inspiring and impactful
“We're going to take the worst thing that could possibly happen to us as parents, but we're going to do something different. We're going to try to be part of the solution and try to bring real change.”
Imagine losing a loved one to addiction and finding the strength to turn that pain into a force for good. That's exactly what Travis Bornstein did after his son, Tyler, tragically passed away from a fentanyl overdose at just 23. Tyler was a bright student and talented athlete whose life took a dark turn following an injury that led to an opioid addiction, eventually spiraling into heroin use.
Despite his family's relentless efforts to support him, Tyler's battle ended in heartbreak when he was left to die in a vacant lot by a fellow user who panicked. Overwhelmed by grief, Travis and his family could have easily been consumed by their loss. Instead, they chose to channel their sorrow into something meaningful. Travis's daughters were the first to act, sharing Tyler's story at their school and founding Hope United, an initiative aimed at combating the drug epidemic.
Inspired by their courage, Travis took his own steps to raise awareness, speaking at a union conference where he astonishingly raised $1 million in just over an hour. The family's dedication didn't stop there. They went on to establish Tyler's Redemption Place, a recovery community organization set to open its doors this year. This facility aims to treat individuals battling addiction comprehensively and without time limits.
Travis's story is a poignant reminder of the resilience that can emerge from the deepest pain. If you're looking for an episode that captures both the heartbreaking realities of addiction and the incredible strength it takes to fight back, this one is not to be missed.
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