Frank Fritz sadly passed away in September of this year. The former American Pickers star was 60 years old. Frank appeared in over 300 episodes and starred on the show for over a decade. He and his best friend, Mike Wolfe, were the main stars and spent their days traveling all over the United States in search of rare and interesting items.
When American Pickers’ Frank Fritz parted ways with the show, his departure caused a lot of confusion among fans. There was some speculation about the fight between him and Mike. In the end, his departure was due to his health. Frank suffered a stroke two years ago. His co-star Mike now explains how the time after Frank’s surgery “changed everything.”
Mike Wolfe says Frank Fritz struggled with opioid addiction
Two months after his best friend passed away, American Pickers’ Mike Wolfe shares his experience of Frank’s final years.
The reality TV star explains that it’s not Frank’s place to tell the story, but adds, “But I feel like I have the right to tell the personal story of how I and so many people struggled to understand what was happening in his life,” according to People.
Mike details how both he and Frank experienced “relationships that were falling apart” during COVID.
Around this time, Frank also had to undergo surgery for a back injury.
After surgery, Mike says “everything changed” because Frank “…became addicted to opioids…”
He explains how he and Frank’s loved ones “staged an intervention” and adds that “it was very difficult to watch Frank do some of the things he was doing.”
The History Channel star adds that he “never gave up” on his friend and detailed how he “fought really hard to get him into rehab.”
While acknowledging that he and Frank experienced a “rift” during their friendship, Mike explains that they “never disconnected.”
For substance abuse treatment and mental health referrals, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) national helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357), or 1- 844-289-0879, available 24/7. You can also contact American Addiction Centers for free, confidential counseling at (888) 341-9792.
For help in the UK, you can call Frank on 0300 123 6600 or Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) on 0800 9177 650.
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