From teacher of the year to homeless, Edward Krumpotich has battled substance use disorder for two decades. In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, Angela Kennecke sits down with Eddie as he shares his harrowing journey with substance use disorder, treatment, and ultimately finding hope and purpose in raising awareness about substance use and harm reduction.
Despite being in and out of up to 50 treatments, Edward’s story is one of resilience, strength, and the power of community. Join us as we listen to Eddie’s story and learn from his experiences of overcoming substance use disorder and finding purpose in helping others.
MEET THE GUEST
Edward Krumpotich
Edward Krumpotich is a harm reduction advocate and policy lead for the National Harm Reduction Coalition in the Upper Midwest. Edward struggled with a methamphetamine use disorder and found lasting recovery through pharmacologic stimulants like Ritalin, Adderall, and Vyvanse. As a result, he became an advocate for stimulant replacement therapy, a new science that remains heavily stigmatized. Edward has helped write and advocate for six substance use, harm reduction, and mental health bills in Nebraska, Minnesota, and South Dakota, including LB307, Nebraska’s first-ever syringe service program provision. As an HIV+ cis gay male, Edward’s goal is to ensure that nobody walks a similar path alone and to promote harm reduction practices that can save lives.
