This episode is deeply personal to me.
Not only as a therapist and podcast host—but as a mom to a 19-year-old son and a 17-year-old daughter.
I’m acutely aware that most young people—and many parents—don’t realize the deadly risks of purchasing medication online without a prescription. Counterfeit pills are now deliberately designed to look exactly like legitimate prescription opioids. But what’s inside is far more dangerous than most people know.
This week on the Cracking Open podcast, I have the immense honor of speaking with Ed and Mary Ternan, founders of the nonprofit Song for Charlie.
After losing their son Charlie to a counterfeit Percocet pill laced with illicit fentanyl, Ed and Mary transformed unimaginable grief into purposeful action. Instead of only placing blame on social media platforms where these pills are sold, they chose to lead with education and empathy—working to save other families from the same heartbreak.
✨ Their mission is clear: to warn young people—especially those ages 13–24—about the danger of fake pills purchased online.
✨ Their message is urgent: even one pill can be fatal.
✨ Their approach is powerful: reaching youth with messaging that actually resonates with their generation.
In this conversation, Ed and Mary bravely share the story of losing their beloved Charlie and the ripple effects that tragedy had on their family, their faith, and their purpose.
Through Song for Charlie, they’ve become fierce advocates for awareness, prevention, and healing. And through their love for Charlie—and for every child who may still be saved—they are making a difference.
This is a story of heartbreak.
But it’s also a story of hope.
🎧 Tune in now to listen.
Love,
Molly
RESOURCES & LINKS
Learn more about Ed and Mary Ternan’s work
Song for Charlie
The New Drug Talk
La Nueva Drug Talk (en Español)
Meet the Song for Charlie Team
Follow Song for Charlie on social media
TikTok
Snapchat
X (formerly Twitter)
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From Tragedy to Advocacy: Song For Charlie’s Founders Ed and Mary Ternan’s Fight Against Counterfeit Pills
