Emily's Hope founder to be featured in upcoming fentanyl special
According to the founder of Emily's Hope, Angela Kennecke, she and other families were brought together for the upcoming Fentanyl the Next Generation: Breaking Fentanyl's Grip. Many of these families have lost someone to fentanyl overdose, including her.
Angela Kennecke was a television anchor and investigative reporter for thirty years, but back in 2018, her 21-year-old daughter died from fentanyl poisoning. Since then, she has dedicated herself to ending the stigma around substance use disorder. Her non-profit, Emily's Hope, helps provide treatment, prevention, and educational resources surrounding drug addiction.
'I just knew that I had to speak out about it. That led me to all of this advocacy work. I never thought I'd still be talking about it seven years later. I thought I could solve it. I thought by just making it public and raising awareness, somehow I could end it.' Kennecke said.
'It's a complicated problem, and I'll continue to talk about it until kids aren't dying anymore.' She added.
The non-profit also helps people seek treatment through scholarships. According to Kennecke, the organization's scholarships have provided half a million dollars to those in need. She said these funds have gone to 250 people so far.
For those who have lost a child to drug overdose, she reminded them, 'You are not alone.' She said it's important for those dealing with grief to reach out; recommending support groups or talking to people who have been through the same thing.
'Nobody can really understand what you've been through like another parent.' She added.
One of her goals is to erase the stigma of drug use. Kennecke stresses the importance of opening a dialogue early, especially for parents whose children are facing drug addiction.
'You have to let them know what substances do to your brain and your body.' She said.
Kennecke continued, 'I think the days of looking at experimentation as a rite of passage are long gone, because I have spoken to too many parents whose child got a pill off a Snapchat or some other social media channel, and they find them dead in their rooms the next morning.'
To hear more about her story, as well as the stories of families just like her, viewers can tune into WMBD from 9 p.m. until 10 p.m.
Fentanyl the Next Generation: Breaking Fentanyl's Grip will re-air on WYZZ Saturday at noon.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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