Answers to Fentanyl PoisoningAnswers to Fentanyl Poisoning
The Addiction Podcast - Point of No Return
Angela Kennecke shares how her daughter Emily died from fentanyl poisoning and how that loss led to a comprehensive K–12 prevention curriculum. The conversation focuses on stigma, fake pills and practical guidance for parents who want to protect and support their children.
19:40•8 Oct 2026
Answers to Fentanyl Poisoning: Angela Kennecke on Love, Loss and Prevention
Episode Overview
- Addiction is described as a disease of the brain that touches many families, often across generations.
- Emily’s death from fentanyl poisoning shows how quickly experimental use can turn fatal, even when a family is preparing to intervene.
- Evidence-based, age-appropriate drug education starting in early primary school is presented as vital for prevention.
- Children are said to need clear information about how substances affect the brain, plus guidance on emotions, pressure and trusted adults.
- Parents are urged to keep communication open and approach children from a standpoint of love rather than anger and punishment.
“All I can say is keep the conversation open. Approach your child always from a standpoint of love.”
What insights can experts and survivors share about addiction? This episode centres on journalist and charity founder Angela Kennecke, whose daughter Emily died from fentanyl poisoning at 21, and it’s aimed squarely at parents, carers and anyone worried about young people and substances.
You’ll hear how Angela’s understanding of addiction shifted over time, from a grandfather active in AA to substance use on her ex‑husband’s side of the family, and finally to Emily’s struggle that began with teenage rebellion and progressed to opioids and heroin. She explains, with heartbreaking clarity, how her family was just three days away from an intervention when Emily died after taking what she believed was heroin, later found to contain fentanyl.
The conversation focuses strongly on education and prevention. Angela describes the stigma around substance use disorder and why a scientific, age‑appropriate approach matters. Her charity, Emily’s Hope, has created a K–12 prevention curriculum, already used by around 30,000 students in six states.
From teaching kindergartners about “trusted adults” and big emotions, through to lessons on how the brain works and what substances do to it by third grade, the programme is designed to give children real information rather than a simple “drugs are bad” message. She also talks about the growing danger of fake pills laced with fentanyl and the misconception that many of these deaths are the result of “addiction” rather than poisoning.
Angela shares her Russian roulette analogy to show how a single pill bought via social media can be fatal, even for a teenager who doesn’t see themselves as using drugs.
The tone stays compassionate and practical, with Angela stressing that anger and punishment don’t work, and urging parents to “keep the conversation open” and “always approach your child from a standpoint of love.” Anyone looking for concrete, education‑focused ways to protect children from fentanyl risks will find this conversation especially relevant. It may leave you asking: what conversations could you start today to keep the young people in your life safer?
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