Latest news with #Kennecke
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Overdose deaths prompt response from Police Chief
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Sioux Falls Police Chief Jon Thum wants people to remain vigilant when it comes to drug overdoses. The chief spoke with reporters today following three deaths in the past few weeks believed to be related to overdoses. So far in 2025, drug overdoses have killed seven people in Sioux Falls, with an 8th suspected case awaiting toxicology tests. SFPD: 7 confirmed overdose deaths so far in 2025 'When we look at these drug cases, I think sometimes we hear terminology, like hey it's a bad batch, or its a hot batch, the reality is with the drugs we are dealing with in this day and age, there is no such thing, they are all bad batches, said Thum. At this time last year the city had ten deaths linked to drug overdoses. Emily's Hope founder Angela Kennecke looks at the drop in deaths so far, as a small victory. 'Overdose deaths actually decreased by 20 percent. I think that is a good thing. However, of course, the eight tragic deaths and how those have impacted families and friends, that's awful. And I want to see no deaths at all, but to have the numbers going down, I think that's fantastic,' said Kennecke. Kennecke's nonprofit, Emily's Hope, has distributed more than a thousand doses of Naloxone, also called Narcan, statewide in the past year. Kennecke says people are relaying information to her that they have already prevented several overdoses. 'So I have had separate people approach me, at different times to tell me that Naloxone has saved someone's life. The Naloxone they got from an Emily's Hope distribution box,' said Kennecke. Those public Naloxone distribution boxes are placed in strategic locations throughout South Dakota. Kennecke says Naloxone is a tool, not a cure. 'So we also offer a post-overdose response team for people who have survived an overdose to connect them with the resources that they need. It has to be followed up with the right kind of care to treat substance abuse disorder,' said Kennecke. Chief Thum agrees, it's what happens after an overdose that can lead to change. 'If you are not dealing with the root cause, if you are not dealing with people who have that demand for that narcotic and some of those issues that are there, it's a multi-faceted approach that has to be taken,' said Thum. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Emily's Hope, EMT react to proposed naloxone cuts
TEA, S.D. (KELO) — The Trump administration has reportedly proposed a $56 million cut to grant funding for naloxone, which is also known by the brand name Narcan. It's a medication that reverses the effects of an overdose. Emily's Hope recently announced plans to distribute 20,000 naloxone kits across South Dakota. While the non-profit's founder Angela Kennecke says Trump's proposed cuts won't impact that program, she worries the progress that has been made on stopping the opioid crisis could slow down. 'It's a good thing that the Trump administration renewed the opioid crisis as a public health emergency because it is, and it continues to be, but one of the reasons that we saw overdose deaths go down by about 25% nationwide is because of the mass distribution of naloxone and because every first responder has it. We don't want to go backwards on that. We just want to move forward, and we want to make naloxone widely available,' Kennecke said. Jaime Bartell, EMS Lieutenant for Tea, says the possible cuts would directly affect the department. 'We use Narcan multiple times a year to help save lives in the community,' Bartell said. And both Bartell and Kennecke say it's crucial for naloxone to be widely distributed. 'Narcan is one of those drugs that are able to be utilized in a dire situation. If we didn't have access to it, like when we didn't have access to epi (epinephrine), it's a very big scary thing for the community,' Bartell said. 'Let's make naloxone as available as possible,' Kennecke said. 'It's a simple life saving tool.' Emily's Hope currently has 10 naloxone dispensers placed throughout South Dakota, including two at Sanford Health in Sioux Falls. For a full list on where you can find naloxone kits, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Emily's Hope naloxone boxes installed at Sanford
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — There are now more places where you can pick up a lifesaving tool for free. Naloxone is a medication that can reverse an opioid overdose. If you walk through the main doors of Sanford hospital or its emergency room in Sioux Falls, you'll see dispenser boxes stocked with free naloxone kits. 'Anyone and everyone is able to come and get it. It will be in public spaces that are accessible 24/7,' Sanford Integrated Health Therapist Kayler Ridl said. Thrive Housing Fair to be held April 11th The kits include a couple doses and instructions on how to use them. 'And this is a safety tool that we really want everyone to carry. You never know when you could come across someone overdosing. It's happened in public restrooms, it's happened in traffic,' Emily's Hope Founder Angela Kennecke said. Emily's Hope provides the naloxone kits. With two distribution boxes now at Sanford, Emily's Hope has 10 naloxone dispensers in South Dakota. 'We have distributed some 6,400 doses since we started about a year ago, those are mostly in Sioux Falls,' Kennecke said. Now, free naloxone is reaching even more people. 'We are very forward facing with individuals who are abusing substances, using substances that are at high risk of overdose, so we're excited to work with Emily's Hope and ideally, increase accessibility to this product and save some lives,' Ridl said. Kennecke says Sanford paid for the two dispenser boxes. If your business or organization is interested having an Emily's Hope box, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Everyday Hero: Breaking Fentanyl's deadly grip
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD)—Nexstar is raising awareness of a critical crisis: the fentanyl epidemic in our country. One woman who is leading the charge is tragically familiar with how dangerous and deadly this drug can be. 'I hate to say this because we're all part of a club that we didn't want to join and we can never leave,' said Angela Kennecke. Kennecke is a former news anchor who worked in South Dakota and lost her daughter Emily to fentanyl poisoning nearly seven years ago. 'My daughter took heroin that she didn't know was laced with fentanyl and died,' Kennecke explained. 'I was just a few days away from holding an intervention when this happened. I just, I'm devastated to this day. I'm devastated.' In honor of her daughter, Angela founded Emily's Hope. A nonprofit dedicated to breaking the stigma of substance use disorder, raising awareness, and increasing access to life-saving resources. 'I just really want to see this horrible epidemic come to an end. At least it is slowing or decreasing in many areas of the country,' Kennecke said. But not decreasing enough. On average, 240 people die each day in this country from drug overdose. Fentanyl is everywhere and doesn't discriminate. 'It's cheap. It's easy. It creates a really effective high, and it really knows no socio-economic boundaries,' Kennecke said. 'Like people think, 'Oh, that couldn't happen to your daughter because she had all these privileges and all this stuff going for her, but it can really happen to anybody.' So, Kennecke and Nexstar are doing something about this crisis on Sunday. They are airing a special featuring a powerful roundtable discussion with parents who have lost a child to fentanyl poisoning or overdose, for Angela, a great opportunity to bring attention to this critical issue. 'I always say, I'm trying to work myself out of a job, I'm trying to end the problem. I'm trying to end something,' Kennecke said. 'And we are seeing the numbers go in the right direction. I think because some of the stigma has been reduced. We have more education. We have much more access to the life-saving drug Naloxone, which can reverse an opioid overdose.' And as a former news anchor, Kennecke appreciates Nexstar joining her in this fight. Be sure to tune in for an in-depth look at this health emergency and some of the innovative strategies being used to tackle the deadly fentanyl crisis with our special program, Next Generation: Breaking Fentanyl's Grip. It airs March 30 at 7 p.m. right here on News 2. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Emily's Hope founder to be featured in upcoming fentanyl special
Tuesday night, WMBD News will air a Nexstar special on Fentanyl. 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.
