Jan 29, 2026
In Cabo, which Becky describes as “Our family’s happy place.” Left to right: Adult son, Cristopher, Mom, Becky, granddaughter, Journey, and Becky’s husband, Adrian. PHOTOS COURTESY OF BECKY CRUZ
The topic of loved ones struggling with addiction has shaped Becky’s relationship with her community. She now leads grief counseling specifically for families who have experienced what she has.
Becky met her husband, Adrian Cruz, at a Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce gala in 2018. The couple, who married in 2023, splits their time between Bakersfield and Terra Bella, where they also farm oranges, in addition to trucking and hauling aspects of the business.
Becky Cruz, her husband Adrian Cruz and granddaughter Journey.
“It's a little bit crazy but a whole lot of love. I spend a lot of time with my son, Cristopher, and granddaughter, Journey,” said Becky, of their blended family. “My Mom and I live in the same neighborhood. I’m close with my nieces. It’s always something, it seems like.”
Becky’s daughter, Brooke Torres, died in 2019 at age 33. Addiction was not part of Brooke’s youth. Brooke was going to college in Fresno when she had a panic attack while driving in fog.
After that incident, she started therapy.
“Brooke’s therapist prescribed Xanax. From there, she moved on to OxyContin and had a pill problem,” said Becky. “She went to rehab. At one point, I thought, ‘If Brooke just does these things, she’ll move on with her life and be fine.’”
It was not that simple.
“No one knew Brooke worked very hard on being sober. She was part of the community, always worked and was going to school at Cal State to help others as a drug and alcohol counselor,” said Becky. “Brooke was known and loved and had a full life, very connected to families in the community.”
Becky Cruz and her daughter, Brooke Torres.
Becky and her family were out of town when the accidental overdose took place. Brooke had stayed home to be able to continue with work and school.
“Brooke’s loss was devastating to our family. I thought, ‘How am I going to live without my daughter?,’” said Becky. “But you have to pick yourself and keep going.”
The book “Understanding Your Grief after a Drug Overdose Death” by Dr. Alan Woolfelt became an important part of Becky’s life. She emailed the author, who runs the Center for Loss & Life Transition in Fort Collins, Colorado, to ask to attend his seminar about seven months after Brooke’s passing. He turned her down after hearing how recent her loss was but eventually relented.
Becky spent the next two years traveling to five-day seminars there and to an affiliated location in Arizona to earn her certificate in Death and Grief Studies.
“I had looked for other support groups but there was nothing for this situation. There was a lot for people overcoming the loss of their elderly parents or with specific illnesses but nothing for parents like me,” said Becky.
Becky reached out to Hoffman Hospice and asked if she could facilitate the kind of group she had needed. Now, she leads a support group each year in the fall-into-winter season held intentionally before the holidays.
Becky and her daughter Brooke Torres at a football game. PHOTOS COURTESY BECKY CRUZ
When it comes to how to handle a family member living with addiction, Becky suggested families keep a key tenant in mind: “Do what you can live with,” she said. “You will have to look back and know you did what the right thing was for yourself and your family. Sometimes no one else can tell you what that is, so do what you know you will be able to live with having done.”
Now settled after such an intense period of change, Becky honors Brooke’s legacy as she continues her business and her roles as a wife, grandmother and mother.
Q&A with Becky Cruz
1. What should families in the Kern County area know more about in their community?
Families should be more aware of the dangers of Fentanyl, especially our youth. It isn’t necessarily a pattern of addiction. One pill can kill your child.
2. What is your parenting PSA? If you could rent a billboard in Kern County all parents would see, what would that message be?
Hug your children and tell them you love them!
Fill-in-the-blank questions:
- I'm always laughing at... My husband and my granddaughter
- In my pantry, you will always find... Shells for sopita for my granddaughter
- My favorite music group is... Brooks and Dunn
- The best book I've read lately is... "The Let Them Theory" by Mel Robbins
