one pill can kill

In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, we delve into the poignant story behind "Song for Charlie." Ed and Mary Ternan deeply value the song, but its origin is rooted in profound loss. Their son Charlie, believing he was purchasing Percocet on Snapchat, was tragically misled and consumed a counterfeit pill laced with deadly fentanyl.

Listen as Ed recounts the events surrounding Charlie's untimely passing, his fervent message to others, and how his non-profit, Song for Charlie, is working diligently with social media platforms to try to curtail the online distribution of deadly pills.

To further understand the efforts to address substance use disorder and its effects, please learn more about Emily's Hope and our innovative K-5 Substance Use Prevention Curriculum.

For more episodes and to read Angela's blog, just go to our website, Emilyshope.charity
Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg & Anna Fey

At first glance, Kate Kerr seemed to have it all—a beautiful apartment, impeccable fashion sense, and was a nurturing mother who ensured her children were well cared for. However, behind this seemingly perfect exterior, a secret lay hidden, unknown even to her closest loved ones. Kate struggled with substance use disorder after a doctor prescribed her painkillers to recover from surgery. Unfortunately, that struggle took a deadly turn that her mother is still trying to piece together.

In this emotional episode of "Grieving Out Loud," host Angela Kennecke sits down with Kate's mother, Deborah Zwicker, as she shares her perspective on her daughter's descent into addiction. Deborah opens up about the shock she experienced, as Kate's appearance and responsibilities seemed to mask her hidden struggle. With relentless determination, Deborah seeks justice for her daughter's tragedy and takes active steps toward preventing future tragedies caused by addiction. She wishes the person with her daughter when she overdosed would have immediately called 911 and taken advantage of the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act. 

For more episodes and to read Angela's blog, just go to our website, Emilyshope.charity
Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg & Anna Fey

In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, your host, Angela Kennecke, sits down with Kim Hix, a mother who tragically lost her daughter Kelsie to fentanyl poisoning. Deaths involving synthetic opioids, primarily fentanyl, are on the rise, with almost 71,000 Americans dying from fentanyl in 2021. Kim Hix is on a mission to raise awareness about this deadly drug through Kelsie's Cause. Kim shares the heartbreaking story of finding her daughter almost lifeless from fentanyl poisoning and the devastating loss she experienced when Kelsie died at the hospital. 

Join us as we dive into the impact of fentanyl on families and the vital importance of raising awareness and educating others about the dangers of this powerful drug.

For more episodes and to read Angela's blog, just go to our website, Emilyshope.charity
Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg & Anna Fey

On the latest episode of Grieving Out Loud, your host, Angela Kennecke, speaks with Julie Baumgard, a mother who lost her daughter Shauna to fentanyl poisoning on a day that was supposed to be a celebration: her own son's 20th birthday.

Julie shares how her daughter Shauna battled with meth addiction but was in recovery when she tragically made a deadly mistake. She tried to buy a Percocet but unknowingly ingested fentanyl, which caused her death. Julie speaks candidly about the pain and heartache of losing a child to fentanyl poisoning and how her family has coped with the loss. She also discusses her efforts to raise awareness about addiction and the dangers of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that has become increasingly common in drug-related deaths.

Through Julie's words, we gain a powerful insight into the impact of addiction on families and the urgent need to address the opioid crisis. Her story is a reminder of the importance of reducing stigma, increasing access to treatment, and supporting those struggling with substance use disorders.

For more episodes and to read Angela's blog, just go to our website, Emilyshope.charity
Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg & Anna Fey

She's one of TikTok's favorite addiction medicine docs. Dr. Elizabeth Zona is board certified in both Anesthesia and Addiction Medicine. In addition to seeing patients at her clinic, she also tries to reach the younger generation, which is largely suffering from our nation's drug epidemic, through TikTok.  

Dr. Zona's personal connection to substance use disorder through her mother's struggle with alcohol addiction also brings a unique and compassionate perspective to her work. In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, Dr. Zona shares her expertise and advice on navigating the challenges of substance use disorder, whether you're personally affected or supporting a loved one.

For more episodes and to read Angela's blog, just go to our website, Emilyshope.charity
Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg & Anna Fey

In this week's episode of Grieving Out Loud, Angela Kennecke speaks with another family she met at the DEA Family Summit, a conference for midwest parents who've lost a child to fentanyl, that she attended in November of 2022. 

Bridgette and Tom Norring, a Hastings, Minnesota family, is one of the dozens of families suing the parent company of Snapchat after their children died from drug overdoses. Norring's son, Devin, was an athlete, honor student, and musician who made a deadly mistake. He bought what he thought was a Percocet from a drug dealer through Snapchat, which ended up being 100 percent fentanyl and it killed him. 

Now the family wants to raise awareness and encourage Snapchat to make changes to prevent future drug deaths.

For more episodes and to read Angela's blog, just go to our website, Emilyshope.charity
Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg & Anna Fey

Think you understand opioids and overdoses? Well, think again, says Micheal Gray. His organization, The Fentanyl Awareness Coalition, is all about a “new paradigm,” A shift in our understanding of fentanyl and the grave danger it poses. Micheal is with us again on the Corner with the latest developments.

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The Behavioral Corner Podcast is made possible by Retreat Behavioral Health. Learn more - https://www.retreatbehavioralhealth.com.

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The Behavioral Corner is produced in partnership with Retreat Behavioral Health -- where healing happens.

It’s becoming an all-too-common story; a young person buys a pill via social media that turns out to be 100 percent fentanyl. Laura Didier’s 17-year-old son, Zach, was experimenting with a couple of pills when he made this fatal mistake. Now Laura is turning her heartbreak into action through advocacy work and helping other parents who’ve lost children to fentanyl poisoning through the organization Song for Charlie.

For more episodes and to read Angela's blog, just go to our website, Emilyshope.charity
Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg & Anna Fey

Michael Gray founder of the Fentanyl Awareness Coalition joins us for the final episode in the BehavioralCorner’s fentanyl series. Michael’s warning is clear: fentanyl is poisonous and lethal, and it’s everywhere.

The Behavioral Corner Podcast is made possible by Retreat Behavioral Health. Learn more - https://www.retreatbehavioralhealth.com

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The Behavioral Corner is produced in partnership with Retreat Behavioral Health -- where healing happens.

Marlyse Williams and Jim Rauh were strangers brought together through grief. Both have lost children to fentanyl. They join us on The Behavioral Corner for our continuing series on the danger of this deadly poison.

The Behavioral Corner Podcast is made possible by Retreat Behavioral Health. Learn more - https://www.retreatbehavioralhealth.com.

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The Behavioral Corner is produced in partnership with Retreat Behavioral Health -- where healing happens.

In the second of our series on the dangers of fentanyl, Stephanie Hellstern, and Ed Kolobis, both members of the Fentanyl Awareness Coalition, join us on the Behavioral Corner.

The Behavioral Corner Podcast is made possible by Retreat Behavioral Health. Learn more - https://www.retreatbehavioralhealth.com

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The Behavioral Corner is produced in partnership with Retreat Behavioral Health -- where healing happens.

Michelle Leopold describes how she thought she would teach Trevor about the world, but now instead she is teaching the world about Trevor.  Trevor was diagnosed with serve cannabis use disorder and then died from 1 fentanyl pill at the age of 18.

Read more about Trevor here.

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