A Mother Builds Back On Track After A Fentanyl Loss

Ten years on WHKP doesn’t happen by accident, and neither does real community change. We sit down with Lynette Oliver of Back on Track Addiction Ministries, a Henderson County leader whose work is reshaping how families in Western North Carolina find addiction help fast, safely, and with dignity. After losing her son Michael to a fentanyl overdose, Lynette channels grief into a mission that now helps place roughly 40 to 60 people a month into detox, rehab, and mental health treatment. 

We dig into what those “placements” really look like, how insurance and care needs affect the plan, and why one-size-fits-all recovery can fail people who are dealing with both substance use disorder and mental health challenges. Lynette shares how Back on Track builds relationships with treatment facilities across the United States, including faith-based programs when appropriate, while still making sure clinical mental health support is available when it’s needed most. 

The conversation gets practical and honest about what’s showing up on the ground right now: the ongoing grip of alcohol addiction, the rising threat of kratom as a legal “gas station high,” and the painful stigma that keeps families quiet even after an overdose. We also talk about the Monday family support meeting, the Tuesday recovery class, and why serving a meal is sometimes a lifeline, not a perk. 

If this story hits close to home, share it with someone who needs it, and subscribe so you don’t miss future Hometown Hero conversations. If you find value here, leave a review and help more listeners discover resources, hope, and real next steps.

Transcript

Ten Years On WHKP

SPEAKER_02 0:00

The George Real Estate Group Radio broadcast is celebrating 10 years on WHKP. The George Real Estate Group is celebrating 10 years on the radio live every Thursday morning at 10.05 on WHKP 107.7 FM and AM 1450, and streaming online at WHKP.com. Each Friday morning at 8.45, the George Real Estate Group presents the Hometown Hero Award to someone in our community who goes above and beyond to make our hometown a better place to live. Here's this week's Hometown Hero Show. It's 8 45 on Friday morning, and that's always the fun time we have with our George Real Estate Group Hometown Hero series. And uh today is no exception. Noah has uh got back in the seat with us again. I missed you last week, man. Oh, wait a minute. Yeah. Now try it. I've got you. We're new at this. Yeah, we've been doing it 50 years.

Travel Lessons And Mountain Pride

SPEAKER_01 1:05

This is live radio. Uh, but grateful to be here. Uh and yes, I missed you guys last week. I thank you for holding down the fort last week. And uh we had uh I was actually doing some uh uh at a m real estate mastermind uh out west and had some great conversations and learning how uh some of the best of the best are doing business and and the business is absolutely still happening uh all across the country.

SPEAKER_02 1:31

All across the country. You were in Phoenix, I believe you said I was in Phoenix. Yeah. Uh and I was in Vegas a month or so ago, so that desert air is rather warm.

SPEAKER_01 1:41

It it was it was warm for 95 when I was it was in the 90s when I was in Phoenix as well, but uh well worth the the trip.

SPEAKER_02 1:49

Uh but makes you glad to get back in the mountains, don't you?

SPEAKER_01 1:52

I am so biased. I I mean I think we live one of the best places in the entire country.

SPEAKER_02 1:56

I do too, man. And uh just travel and see. That's right.

SPEAKER_01 2:00

And again, when I meet people from all over, and I'm I'm proud to say I'm from Western North Carolina and and able to tell them about our community. And and again, it's uh but the but the joke is uh you know, go check out Raleigh or Durham, and it's it's nicer over there.

unknown 2:16

Exactly.

SPEAKER_01 2:18

They're talking about Eastern North Carolina. Uh the joke. But uh again, we we're so fortunate where we live, and again, it's incredible uh people that live here in the community, and all the things, right? And the things that you and I get to talk about every Friday morning at the Hometown Hero Series, uh meeting incredible men and women, serving this community, making a difference in this community. And it's uh, you know, it it you know, I I tell people all the time we just happen to be we happen to be helping people with houses, but it's you know, it's it's relationships, it's advocating, it's uh, you know, the you know, we we're there, it you know, we're a personal development company. I mean, we're you know, it it's houses that happen to be the catalyst for our conversations, but it's ultimately when it bottom line, it's it's relationships and life happens, therefore real estate happens, and you know, been doing this 21 years, and it's a privilege and honor to do it.

How To Reach George Real Estate

SPEAKER_02 3:08

There's a lot of steps to that real estate process, and you need a shepherd, I say. Noah, George, get us in touch with your company. You're in downtown Flat Rock, North Carolina.

SPEAKER_01 3:19

Dangerous location. We're next to the Flat Rock Bakery, Haba Hubba uh Barbecue, Campfire Grill, all those great spots there. But stop by and say hello. Uh find us online at realastatebygreg.com. Follow us on social media, Facebook and Instagram, and our podcast. We podcast all of our radio shows. Also on Facebook, you can see about our new listings, our open houses. We actually have a great open house. All of our open houses are great. But tomorrow morning, uh 10 a.m. to 12 at 68, Simply Grateful Drive. Uh 10 a.m. to 12. The Amy team's hosting uh an incredible uh property there uh tomorrow morning.

SPEAKER_02 3:52

On Simply Grateful Drive.

SPEAKER_01 3:54

What an what an address. I love it. I love it.

Lynette Oliver And The Athena Award

SPEAKER_02 3:58

Because uh we were just talking about before we went on the air how grateful we are. And we're grateful that Lynette Oliver from Back on Track Addiction Ministries is in the house with us. Lynette, good morning.

SPEAKER_00 4:10

Good morning.

SPEAKER_02 4:11

How are you?

SPEAKER_00 4:11

I'm good.

SPEAKER_02 4:12

Well, it's good to have you here with us.

SPEAKER_00 4:14

Well, thank you for having me.

SPEAKER_02 4:16

The reason that you uh hit our radar was uh because you received the Athena Award recently. And uh I know that had to be quite an honor.

SPEAKER_00 4:29

It was. Uh very unexpected, but it was very much an honor.

SPEAKER_02 4:35

When uh were you you you knew you were nominated, I think.

SPEAKER_00 4:39

Yeah, I knew I was nominated, yes.

SPEAKER_02 4:40

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 4:41

But I was coming up against some really wonderful women.

SPEAKER_02 4:44

Well, yes.

SPEAKER_00 4:45

And w you know, so it was it was unexpected.

SPEAKER_02 4:50

This happens at the Chamber Award Dinner. Yes, yes. Well, uh the Athena Award is uh is a very special award. Yes. It was created by our late friend Vanessa Mintz, and uh it goes on, it honors women of our community who make a difference, as Noah said before when we get on the air. So let's talk about why you received the uh Athena Award and on behalf of the Back on Track Ministries.

SPEAKER_00 5:22

Well, Back on Track was founded in 2020 after my son passed away in 2018 from a fentanyl overdose. I'm sorry. And since that time we have grown from doing eight to ten people in placements a month, we have grown to do forty to sixty placements a month. Um placements. That means end rehab, detox, that kind of thing, you know, mental health. We do a lot of mental health.

SPEAKER_02 5:50

It's grown that much.

SPEAKER_00 5:52

It has grown that much in six years. There's a huge need. People really don't want to acknowledge it, but it is definitely here, and it takes an army. We have some great volunteers and friends that have started, you know, that are with us, and of course, my family, my husband, my daughter has been very active, and my grandson, um, which is Michael's son, Gavin.

SPEAKER_01 6:15

Did you I I at first off again our condolences, but it's it's remarkable. I mean, everybody not I mean at some point everybody's gonna experience challenges and pain, and and you took that pain and grief and uh turned it into serving our community. Can can you talk about that?

SPEAKER_00 6:35

Well, uh God always knows what we need. And he knew that I I'm a person that I do 150%. And if I didn't do something, the grief probably would have destroyed me. And so uh he started really dealing with me about the challenges we had with Michael when he was in addiction, and the resources was not there. So when we started back on track, we tried to to bridge those gaps, and I think we've done a pretty good job of it.

SPEAKER_01 7:11

I can imagine families that are facing this and whether it's a child or a a sibling or parent, right? I mean spouse. Spouse, I mean it it it's there's no uh uh discrimination on who this affects.

SPEAKER_00 7:24

No.

SPEAKER_01 7:24

And I imagine the the hopelessness they might feel of like how do I get help, or or even the shame of even talking out loud about it, or right? I mean, like at some point you hit a point where I have to get help and and and again, yeah, you guys are one of the resources.

SPEAKER_00 7:39

Well, I get a lot of phone calls from parents and um that just feel hopeless, just like I felt, you know.

unknown 7:45

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 7:46

Where do we turn, what do we do? We don't know what to do. You know, they're searching, but they don't know where to search, and that's where back on track comes in. We have um rehabs for mental health and substance abuse all over the United States that we use. Uh we have made some great relationships. Uh we use some of the top-notch facilities all the way across. And we also use a lot of faith-based programs too. But we know that somebody with um mental health issues ha can't go to our faith-based programs. So our insurance program makes that um possible for them to do.

SPEAKER_01 8:22

So depending on the situation, I mean you can place people that's gonna support them best.

SPEAKER_00 8:29

Yes, and we can do we can do 30 days of mental health and then do substance abuse. So that they and we've had some pretty acute cases in Henderson County that we and we've kept people in nine months that were uh had the challenges of mental health with substance abuse. And that keeps them off the streets. Yeah. And I and I as a mother when when your child is somewhere for 30 days, you sleep for 30 days, you know you're not gonna get that phone call. Right. Right? You you know they're safe, you know they've got a warm bed, you know they're eating, and that is priceless to a parent. It is priceless. And that's the way I look at it. And you know, I've been there, so the mothers that are grieving, going through it, you know, we try to to walk with them.

Support Meetings And Shared Meals

SPEAKER_02 9:17

Yeah. You have uh meetings like twice a week. I yeah I know I know that you s you sponsor our uh morning hymn one day a week here. And during that time I remind people that you have dinner meetings.

SPEAKER_00 9:34

We do.

SPEAKER_02 9:34

Tell us about those.

SPEAKER_00 9:35

On Monday night we have our family support meeting, uh-huh. And some of the families that come there have lost um children to addiction. And Tuesday night we have our recovery class.

SPEAKER_02 9:48

And you serve a meal at both of them?

SPEAKER_00 9:50

We do. We we serve a meal. This past week in recovery class we had pork chops, mashed potatoes, and homemade biscuits.

SPEAKER_02 9:57

Well, it's uh comfort food, yeah. Yes.

SPEAKER_00 10:00

Well, on in our recovery class, sometimes that's the the most meal that pe these people get.

SPEAKER_02 10:06

Wow.

SPEAKER_00 10:06

So um it's it's great. And we've made some great relationships and some great friends in that class. And a lot of people that have gone through our um our program is in that class.

SPEAKER_02 10:18

They come back to help.

SPEAKER_00 10:19

Well they yes, yeah. And they're there every week, and they're you know, that we've become family.

Alcohol And Kratom Realities

SPEAKER_02 10:25

What is um what is the substance that is the most addictive that you see on Alcohol. Alcohol. Still alcohol.

SPEAKER_00 10:36

It is still alcohol.

SPEAKER_02 10:38

Even with all these fentanyls and all it's your success rate in our it were I, what I see, our success rate is lower with alcohol than fentanyl or any other substance.

SPEAKER_00 10:51

Now, this kratom that's coming up that you can go up here to uh the market, the store and buy has uh is coming up pretty fast. It's a hard detox, it's legal, you can buy it anywhere, but and the insurance is accepting and paying for people to go through rehab on it. So that tells you how bad that drug is.

SPEAKER_02 11:14

It is.

SPEAKER_00 11:14

We call it the gas station high.

SPEAKER_02 11:17

It's available at all gas stations.

SPEAKER_00 11:19

It's a b and it's very addictive.

SPEAKER_02 11:22

Kratom, C C or K R.

SPEAKER_01 11:26

Yes. What what are some of the misconceptions people still have about addiction?

SPEAKER_00 11:32

I think they don't think it'll ever happen to them.

SPEAKER_01 11:35

Or their family.

SPEAKER_00 11:36

Or their family. And somewhere down the line it's going to affect because the drugs are so bad. You it's might not help hit your kids, but you got your grandkids, you got your great grandkids to come up, you know, and people need to start talking about it. We have families that their children have overdosed and they won't say the word. You know, and when Michael died when our family got together, we just we put it in his obituary because we was not going to be ashamed of his life or who he was. So it it was in his obituary. Um and we have to talk about it. I don't care if you got ten million dollars in a bank or you got five dollars in a bank, it you it can affect you. Right. And you know, the the funding is hard for addiction because we're at the bottom because people want to give to the animals, and I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that. And then you got the elderly, and that's great too. But we got a generation that's coming up that if we don't start talking about it and doing something about it, it it's gonna get even worse than it is now. I mean, I if I had everybody in Henderson County that is on drugs come in our facility, we would not be able to place them all. It's that bad. But people don't want to talk about it. They want to push it away so that it's not if you put your head in the sand, it's not there, but trust me, it is there. If you sit in my chair every week, every day and listen to the stories, the trauma, the heartache, you would you would realize how severe it is.

SPEAKER_02 13:07

I'm sure that's uh tough to listen to all all the time like you do.

SPEAKER_00 13:13

It is, but I think God prepares us for a calling. And I do believe it's a calling because when he started dealing with me about it, I'm like, n that ain't happening. I'm not that person, but you know, God he he qualifies the call.

SPEAKER_02 13:32

Qualifies the call.

SPEAKER_00 13:33

Yeah, he doesn't, yeah.

Auction Vendors Donations And Next Steps

SPEAKER_02 13:36

Well, uh, you mentioned uh that there's a lot of people involved and a lot of volunteers and a lot of people who help, and I know that you must be always looking for other people to come on board.

SPEAKER_00 13:48

Always. Well, we just closed our resale store and we're getting ready to switch over to we're gonna have an auction on May the 16th. So does anybody out there have anything to auction, please come for reach out. And we're also we're gonna start a market in our space on uh Spark 1900 Spartan Highway. So if you have if you're a vendor and we need a space, come see us. And since we're switching over, uh, you know, our income has come to a halt, so anybody that could donate to help us through this time would be deeply appreciated because even though we're closed, we pay all of our premiums for our clients while they're in rehab. Wow, and that is a hefty of course amount. Uh our insurances have gone from$75 to$150 to$300 and$400 per person.

SPEAKER_02 14:35

Wow. Get us in touch with your organization. How do folks contribute if they'd like to?

SPEAKER_00 14:40

Well, they can go on our website, they can drop by, we're there every day, nine to five. Um, they can um um go on Facebook, there's a donate button there.

Thanks Contact Info And Closing Message

SPEAKER_02 14:52

Okay, good, good. Lynette, thank you so much for joining us today. We're so grateful for you and back on track addiction ministries. Uh, congratulations on receiving the award.

SPEAKER_00 15:04

Thank you.

SPEAKER_02 15:05

Thank you for coming. Noah, have a great weekend. Thank you so much for being with us today.

SPEAKER_01 15:10

It's a privilege and it's an honor to sponsor the Hometown Hero Series.

SPEAKER_02 15:13

It is uh nine o'clock, everyone. The George Real Estate Group is located in Flat Rock, North Carolina, near Hendersonville in Henderson County. You can find them online at realestatebygreg.com. The George Real Estate Group can be reached at 828-3930134 or stop by their office at 2720 Greenville Highway, Flat Rock, North Carolina. Tune in live each week on Thursdays at 1005 AM on WHKP 107.7 FM and 1450 A.m. or stream online at WHKP.com or download these podcasts wherever you get your podcasts. The George Real Estate Group brings you the WHKP Hometown Hero Series every Friday morning at 8.45.

SPEAKER_01 16:04

Maybe the house feels a little too big these days. The stairs a little steeper. The pace of life a little too fast. But what if your next move wasn't about letting go? It was about making space. For peace, for freedom, for what matters most. At the George Real Estate Group, we understand that real estate isn't just about the house. It's about transitions, timing, and trust. We've helped thousands of families in Western North Carolina make smart, thoughtful moves. Closer to nature, closer to family, closer to home. So when you're ready to write size, simplify, or start fresh, we'll be here. The George Real Estate Group. Local, trusted, proven. Call us today, 828 393 0134. Find us online at real estate bygreg.com because your next chapter deserves to feel just right.