Dylan’s Story: High School to Heroin to Fentanyl — Part 1

Dylan’s Story: High School to Heroin to Fentanyl — Part 1

What can we learn from those who have battled addiction? This episode of Facing Fentanyl follows Dylan T as he looks back on how a “good childhood” on a horse farm in Boise shifted into teenage rebellion, early substance use, and his first criminal charge.

Dylan talks about growing up with “good church‑going” parents, hard work, and twenty horses that “had to eat first.” There’s no dramatic early trauma here, and he’s honest about wondering, “I don’t know, I wonder sometimes how it all started.” As school life changes, he drifts from close childhood bonds with his brother into the classic middle‑school struggle of trying to fit in, describing himself as a “floater” between different social groups.

His first experience with alcohol is less about liking the taste (“It was gross”) and more about “the feeling of being accepted.” Weed follows at 14, along with a growing need for approval that, as he puts it, “has been a huge role that has like directed my entire life.” A key turning point comes with a paraphernalia charge at 14: “That kind of started my whole criminality.” Instead of acting as a warning, it raises his status among peers: “It made me cocky… I’m a badass.” From there, he shifts into a tougher crowd, stealing “for the feel of power,” while tensions at home escalate into shouting matches with his dad.

The episode focuses on how alcohol and cannabis gradually become part of his identity. Through a candid, conversational style with host Gonzo D, the episode shows how a mix of social pressure, ego, and the craving to belong can set the stage long before heroin or fentanyl appear. It’s raw, honest, and geared towards anyone who’s ever wondered how a seemingly ordinary teenager can slide into serious substance use.

If you’ve questioned how early choices snowball, this story might hit close to home and spark some reflection.