Every day, we are moved and inspired by the stories of those touched by addiction. These stories of struggles and success, loss and new beginnings, relapse and recovery all truly impact lives and we are grateful to those who are able to share theirs. For our upcoming Symposium this September, Rimrock is fortunate to have Angela Kennecke, a veteran broadcast journalist and award-winning investigative reporter, coming to share her story.
Over the last decade, many of the news stories Angela has focused on center around the growing opioid crisis. On the day Angela interviewed three parents whose children had died of overdoses for a piece covering the Good Samaritan Laws and overdose deaths, her own 21-year-old daughter Emily died of fentanyl poisoning due to an overdose.
Following Emily’s death, Angela realized there was important meaning and a lesson that she could take away from the interviews she conducted on the day she experienced one of the deepest losses possible. Angela has taken Emily’s story nationwide, speaking tirelessly about the issues surrounding opioid addiction and her own frustration and sense of helplessness as a mother who has lost her child.
Angela believes when tragedy and setbacks strike, the only thing you have control over is your response. She has chosen to respond to the loss of her beautiful and beloved daughter by working to erase the stigma surrounding addiction and advocate for more funding, better treatment, and more research and understanding of the problem. Angela also started a charity called “Emily’s Hope” because she never gave up hope on her daughter and now wants to offer hope to other families struggling with addiction.
Angela’s strength and compassion allows her to give a voice to thousands of people who struggle with addiction every day. Her personal commitment to honor Emily’s memory allows her a deep connection with the audience and leaves you with a yearning to do and learn more on how to be of service to others in crisis.
Angela’s story reminds brings the effects of addiction on all levels of our society and the tragic impact the opioid epidemic is having on our communities into clear focus. We are grateful to have her share her story with our community.
If you are interested in learning more about Angela’s story, she will be featured on the Big J Show Tuesday, September 10th at 8:15am. We also invite you to attend our upcoming Symposium: The Future of Addiction Medicine: Advances in Mental Health & Addiction Treatment on Friday, September 27th.
