The New Drug Talk

Nearly half of American teenagers don't know that the Xanax, Percocet or Adderall they might get from a friend or buy online could be a fake made with fentanyl.

In this five-episode audio series for parents and caregivers, Song for Charlie co-founder Ed Ternan—alongside Dr. Scott Hadland (Chief of Adolescent Medicine, Mass General and Harvard Medical School), Dr. Elizabeth Zona (addiction medicine), harm reduction educators, and young people affected by this crisis—gives you what every family needs: the facts about fake prescription pills, how to talk to your kids in ways that actually protect them, and how to help them handle stress without self-medicating.

Ed and his wife Mary founded Song for Charlie after their son Charlie, a 22-year-old college senior, died in 2020 from a single fake Percocet he'd bought through social media and thought was real. The New Drug Talk is how we help families protect their kids.

Runtime: About 50 minutes total.

Short on time? Jump to Chapter 5, which is meant for parents and teens to listen to together.

Chapter 1: A Family's Wake-up Call

9–10 minutes

Charlie Ternan was a college senior—the empathetic friend who stayed up late to listen, the guy who held his group together. On May 14, 2020, he took what he thought was a Percocet for back pain before a job interview. It was fake. Hear from Charlie's dad Ed, his sister Teresa, his girlfriend Bridget, and the housemates who found him—and understand why this could happen to anyone.

Chapter 2: The Fentanyl Crisis Explained

10–12 minutes

Young people are using drugs less than they were 20 years ago—but dying more. Why? Because fake pills that look exactly like real Xanax, Oxy and Adderall have flooded the market, and they're made with fentanyl. Dr. Hadland, Dr. Zona, and other experts explain what's changed, how potent fentanyl really is, and why the old rules no longer apply.

Chapter 3: Real Talk—Communication Strategies

8–9 minutes

You want to talk to your kid about this. But what do you actually say? This episode gives you practical scripts and approaches backed by research—lead with curiosity, not accusations; create conversations, not lectures. Experts and young advocates explain what opens doors and what shuts them down.

Chapter 4: Skills Over Pills—Building Resilience

9–10 minutes

Telling kids "don't take pills" isn't enough. They need better options when life feels overwhelming. This episode covers practical alternatives—exercise, sleep, creative outlets, asking for help—and how parents can model healthy coping in addition to talking about it.

Chapter 5: Listen as a Family

7–8 minutes

Start here if you're short on time. This episode is designed for parents and teens to listen to together—the key facts, the core message, and a conversation starter all in one. If you do nothing else, do this.

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The New Drug Talk is produced by Song for Charlie with support from the California Department of Health Care Services.

The New Drug Talk Audio Series