In this powerful and informative episode of Raising Joy, we revisit with Ed Ternan, the President and Founder of Song for Charlie, a national, family-run nonprofit charity dedicated to raising awareness about ‘fentapills’ — fake pills made of fentanyl. Ed shares the heartbreaking story of his son Charlie, whose tragic death from a counterfeit pill laced with fentanyl inspired him to take action.
Dr. Pyrc and Ed delve into the alarming rise of fentanyl-related deaths, particularly among young people, and discuss how Song for Charlie is making a difference. They explore the organization's initiatives, including:
- Raising awareness about the dangers of counterfeit pills.
- Providing resources and education for parents and caregivers.
- Developing tailored programs for different communities, including the Spanish-speaking community.
- Reimagining drug education for the modern age with resources like the “Real Talk About Fake Pills” film.
Ed offers crucial advice for parents, educators, and communities on how to protect young people from the dangers of fentanyl and how to educate them through having open conversations.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone concerned about the well-being of young people and seeking practical solutions to the fentanyl crisis.
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What is Raising Joy?
Raising Joy is part of Cook Children’s Joy Campaign, which aims to encourage hope and resilience among children and teens. Cook Children’s Health Care System is located in Fort Worth, Texas and has seen the mental and emotional toll the COVID-19 pandemic has taken on children and their families. In this podcast, hosts Wini King and Dr. Kristen Pyrc explore topics of anxiety, stress, depression, trauma and suicide in order to bring hope and needed resources to struggling children and families. Raising Joy is produced by the public relations team at Cook Children’s. The theme music was created by Raymond Turner from the Sparklefly Recording Studio at Cook Children’s.
Disclaimer: The opinions and advice provided by our guests are not endorsed by Cook Children’s. If you
or someone you know are struggling, please reach out for professional help. Cook Children’s has a list of crisis contact information for youth and families on its website: cookchildrens.org/joy.
Executive Producer:
Winifred “Wini” King