As a young man, Lilo Brancato, Jr. was on top of the world. After landing a role in "A Bronx Tale," a film directed by legendary actor Robert DeNiro, Brancato began his long career as an actor in film and television. But around age 18, Brancato had dropped out of school, and spent his free time drinking and partying. Things took a turn for the worse when Brancato--in a crack-cocaine induced psychosis-- leapt from a moving car, and began abusing the pain medication he was prescribed for his injury.

In this episode of Straight Talk with Mike Gimbel, Brancato, now sober for more than a decade, details the early days of his substance use, and the tragic night an off-duty police officer was killed by a cohort of Brancato while they were robbing a house.

These days, Brancato tells his story with the hope of helping others recover from addiction.