Pennsylvania PBS “Battling Opioids” Television Series, airing Part 7 January 28, 2021, WHYY, WITF, PBS39, WPSU, WQED, WQLN, and WVIA.
Pennsylvania PBS “Battling Opioids” Television Series, Part 6 aired September 24, 2020, WHYY, WITF, PBS39, WPSU, WQED, WQLN, and WVIA.
Pennsylvania PBS “Battling Opioids” Television Series Addresses Current and New Treatments in Part 5 aired April 23, 2020 WHYY, WITF, PBS39, WPSU, WQED, WQLN, and WVIA.
Segments include:
Segments include:
WQED: We revisit the story about “Chris’s Room”, Chris’s Room offers respite for those who find themselves without a home or family as they struggle to stay off drugs. The room was named for Chris Wall, a young professional who died of a heroin overdose in 2016.
WLVT: PBS 39 revisits Jeremy Wheaton who recommitted himself to recovery. Today, he has a steady job and is training to become a certified recovery specialist.
WITF: Those in recovery are often told at the beginning of their journey towards sobriety that they can have a life beyond their wildest dreams. Many remember tuning out when they heard those words or questioning what they even meant. We take a look at the success of recovery.
WVIA: Shannon Pieck from Luzerne County battled his addiction for many years and continues his recovery. Shannon recently became a recovery specialist for Clean-Slate in Wilkes-Barre.
WHYY: The Opioid problem in Philadelphia and southeastern Pennsylvania has been challenging over the last 2 years. In 2017 Philadelphia had the highest overdose deaths of any major city in the United States. Maiken Scott and Nina Feldman of WHYY discuss some of the proposed solutions including one of the most controversial, safe injection sites.
Pennsylvania Public Media’s “Battling Opioids” Television Series Addresses Current and New Treatments in Part 4 aired January 30, 2020 WHYY, WITF, PBS39, WPSU, WQED, WQLN, and WVIA.
Segments include:
Blue Guardian program: Lehigh County’s Blue Guardian program pairs police with certified recovery specialists who visit individual’s within a few days of being revived by naloxone. The goal of this program is to offer support to families and to encourage those struggling with addiction to seek recovery programs.
PROSPER: The PROSPER program is an early intervention program that works with children and their families to help young people avoid substance abuse and behavioral problems.
Back On My Feet: Therapists and researchers agree that there are benefits of exercise, which can help individuals in recovery maintain their sobriety. Donald Davalos has struggled with substance use for more than 20 years. He recently discovered Back on My Feet, a national non-profit that serves people in recovery through organized running groups and other services.
Neonatal NAS Program: Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome is a group of problems that occur in a newborn who was exposed to opiate drugs while in the mother’s womb. NAS is a program created to help expecting mothers that are addicted to opioids.
Mobile Help: Vivitrol is a once-a-month injection that is helping those with opioid addiction to move beyond cravings to sustained recovery. Although Vivitrol is proving to be an effective alternative to Methadone and Suboxone treatment, it is not yet widely available. In this story, we’ll learn about a new program that takes Vivitrol to Pennsylvania’s rural communities.
Peer Support for Recovery: While we hear a lot about the staggering number of people that lose their battle with opioids on a daily basis, we hear less about the number of people who enter recovery. In fact, some say peer support is what keeps those struggling with addiction in recovery.
Music and Art Therapy are alternative forms of treatment that are now being used in recovery. These treatments have been used to decrease symptoms of anxiety and repair damage caused by emotional trauma. New Roots Recovery Center provides hope and support to individuals with a Substance Use Disorder.
Panel discussion featuring:
Senator Gene Yaw represents the 23rd Senatorial District and serves on a number of Boards and Commissions. He is the Chairman of the Center for Rural Pennsylvania.
Raphael Barishansky is the Deputy Secretary for Health Preparedness and Community Protection at the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
Deputy Secretary DiDomenico explains what resources are available through the PA HELP Hotline, 1-800-5662-HELP.
In Battling Opioids Part 2, Pennsylvania Public Media focuses on the impact of the opioid crisis on PA’s children, families and young adults. In the Battling Opioids project, Pennsylvania’s Public Media stations are coming together to produce educational programming that focuses on the opioid crisis and its effects, to share resources, and to convene community conversations. The first statewide Battling Opioids broadcast aired September 2018.
Watch the Part 2 documentary and our individual stories below. Learn about the opioid crisis in Pennsylvania, its effects, and the people fighting to save their loved ones and communities.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a time of uncertainty for everyone. Many are dealing with new challenges. But for those in recovery, this time has been even more challenging. Here's a look at a day in the life of someone trying to maintain their recovery during COVID-19 while also working remotely and parenting young children.
The coronavirus is now affecting all aspects of life. For someone dealing with addiction, the change in routine could be detrimental to their recovery due to isolation and increased anxiety. For some facing two public health crises at once, the challenges are great.
BattlingOpioids.org
WQED: Across Pennsylvania, thousands of people depend on rehab counselors and other social service professionals to keep their recovery on track. The restrictions of the coronavirus pandemic have interrupted the usual in-person connections, but that doesn't mean the work has stopped. We’ll see how care navigators in Washington County are finding new ways to keep their clients on the path to recovery.
Pennsylvania Public Media’s “Battling Opioids” Television Series Part 5; Opioid Addiction and Coronavirus
Pennsylvania Public Media presents our fifth collaborative program in which we'll revisit stories of hope and recovery that we featured in this series. For some, it's been a very long road, especially in dealing with the recent Coronavirus outbreak.
The coronavirus is now affecting all aspects of life. For someone dealing with addiction, the change in routine could be detrimental to their recovery due to isolation and increased anxiety. With in-person group meetings canceled, some are taking these services online. Join us to hear updates from some of the people we featured in earlier programs, along with examples of how covid-19 impacts all aspects of recovery - from education to treatment.
Battling Opioids Part 5 will air on Thursday evening, April 23rd on Pennsylvania Public Television. See local channel listings for time.
Segments include:
WQED: We revisit the story about "Chris's Room", Chris's Room offers respite for those who find themselves without a home or family as they struggle to stay off drugs. The room was named for Chris Wall, a young professional who died of a heroin overdose in 2016.
WLVT: PBS 39 revisits Jeremy Wheaton who recommitted himself to recovery. Today, he has a steady job and is training to become a certified recovery specialist.
WITF: Those in recovery are often told at the beginning of their journey towards sobriety that they can have a life beyond their wildest dreams. Many remember tuning out when they heard those words or questioning what they even meant. We take a look at the success of recovery.
WVIA: Shannon Pieck from Luzerne County battled his addiction for many years and continues his recovery. Shannon recently became a recovery specialist for Clean-Slate in Wilkes-Barre.
WQLN: John Hartnett is a person in recovery from a substance abuse disorder. He began his process of recovery in 2015 after losing 15 friends and has become a big advocate for people with substance abuse disorders in the Crawford County community. One of his roles is holding events under the “Let’s Talk: Overcome Addiction” campaign which brings people together to discuss solutions through community collaboration.
WHYY: The Opioid problem in Philadelphia and southeastern Pennsylvania has been challenging over the last 2 years. In 2017 Philadelphia had the highest overdose deaths of any major city in the United States. Maiken Scott and Nina Feldman of WHYY discuss some of the proposed solutions including one of the most controversial, safe injection sites.
About
Pennsylvania has one of the highest opioid overdose death rates in the nation. Every day, thousands of Pennsylvanians—mothers, and fathers, children, neighbors—struggle to overcome addiction. Rural and urban, rich and poor, the opioid crisis affects all of us.
NeitherBattling Opioids Part 5 people nor communities can fight this battle alone. Battling Opioids is a project of seven Pennsylvania Public Media stations. Public media has a unique potential to connect Pennsylvanians across boundaries, and, in an unprecedented collaboration, we are doing just that. Our local reporting and programming have covered the opioid crisis for years, now we are uniting to show you how Pennsylvanians statewide are confronting the epidemic of heroin and prescription opioid abuse. We are increasing awareness and empathy to reduce the stigma around opioid use, aid prevention, and help people find treatment.
Pennsylvania Public Media stations WHYY (Philadelphia), WITF (Harrisburg), WLVT/PBS39 (Greater Lehigh Valley), WPSU (State College), WQED (Pittsburgh), WQLN (Northwestern Pennsylvania), and VIA Public Media (Northeastern Pennsylvania) are collaborating to produce educational programming that focuses on the opioid crisis and its impact.
Battling Opioids Part 5: The Road to Recovery and Success
WVIA: Shannon Pieck from Luzerne County battled his addiction for many years and continues his recovery. Shannon recently became a recovery specialist for Clean-Slate in Wilkes-Barre.
WQED: We revisit the story about "Chris's Room", Chris's Room offers respite for those who find themselves without a home or family as they struggle to stay off drugs. The room was named for Chris Wall, a young professional who died of a heroin overdose in 2016.
WITF: Those in recovery are often told at the beginning of their journey towards sobriety that they can have a life beyond their wildest dreams. Many remember tuning out when they heard those words or questioning what they even meant. We take a look at the success of recovery.
Battling Opioids Part 5: Addicton Recovery Programs Offer Services During Pandemic
Addiction recovery programs across Pennsylvania continue to offer services during the coronavirus crisis. Health care providers are offering telehealth video calls with physicians, sobriety programs are hosting meetings and counseling sessions virtually.
Neonatal NAS Program: Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome is a group of problems that occur in a newborn who was exposed to opiate drugs while in the mother's womb. NAS is a program created to help expecting mothers that are addicted to opioids. WQLN
BattlingOpioids.org
Blue Guardian program: Lehigh County’s Blue Guardian program pairs police with certified recovery specialists who visit individual’s within a few days of being revived by naloxone. The goal of this program is to offer support to families and to encourage those struggling with addiction to seek recovery programs.
PROSPER: The PROSPER program is an early intervention program that works with children and their families to help young people avoid substance abuse and behavioral problems.
BattlingOpioids.org
Music and Art Therapy are alternative forms of treatment that are now being used in recovery. These treatments have been used to decrease symptoms of anxiety and repair damage caused by emotional trauma. New Roots Recovery Center provides hope and support to individuals with a Substance Use Disorder.
Battling Opioids Part 3: RECOVERY COMMUNITY PEER SUPPORT
There’s Strength in the Recovery Community
Description: While we hear a lot about the staggering number of people that lose their battle with opioids every day, we hear less about the number of people who enter recovery. For decades, this community has been somewhat anonymous. Today, those in opioid recovery are holding public events to raise awareness, creating outreach programs and most importantly - offering support to their peers. In fact, some say peer support is what keeps them in recovery.
Battling Opioids: Produced by WITF
Battling Opioids Part 3: Vivitrol Mobile Treatment
Vivitrol is a once-a-month injection that is helping those with opioid addiction to move beyond cravings to sustained recovery. Although Vivitrol is proving to be an effective alternative to Methadone and Suboxone treatment, it is not yet widely available. In this story, we learn about a new program that takes Vivitrol to Pennsylvania's rural communities by way of a mobile unit. We speak with the recovering addict who began the mobile treatment program, and hear from patients who are staying clean with the help of the drug.
Watch the full Battling Opioids: Part 2 "news magazine" program and panel, featuring stories and expert commentary on the opioid crisis from across Pennsylvania.
Battling Opioids Part 2: Recovery Through Community
Resisting drugs and alcohol on a college campus can be difficult. Collegiate recovery communities help students stay in recovery--and find support every day.
Battling Opioids Part 2: Parenting, Mindfulness & Recovery
Learning mindfulness techniques can help young moms like Kelliann deal with the challenges of both parenting and being in recovery from opioid use disorder.
Paris lost both of her parents to complications from their drug use. Following their deaths, she became one of the over 437,000 American children in foster care. The Program Director at The Bair Foundation, a foster care agency in York, says foster care agencies do not have enough foster families for teenagers, like Paris. She says fostering teens can be challenging but also rewarding and she hopes more families will come forward to meet the need.
Dr. Kim Burns, Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine School of Pharmacy, explains why Drug Take-Back boxes are an important focus on alleviating the health and safety concerns stemming from the diversion and abuse of prescription drugs, by helping our citizens properly dispose of unused prescription medications.
Since Montgomery County issued its own standing order for naloxone prescriptions in October 2015, independent pharmacies have distributed about 1,000 packs of the life-saving overdose antidote. Advocates say the access has saved lives -- and given addicts and their families another chance for recovery.
Living in the isolated rural counties of Pennsylvania poses unique challenges to those seeking treatment for opioid addiction. In Susquehanna County, Barnes Kasson Hospital and the community action agency Trehab are working to make recovery treatment more effective for those who chose that path.
A new, simple, test promises to identify patients at risk of becoming addicted to opioids. The CEO of Prescient Medicine, doctor Keri Donaldson, believes this test will give doctors the type of information they need to make a more informed decision about prescriptions and patient care. Mother and advocate Brenda Goldman describes how opioid addiction has impacted her family and how a test like this could help.
Former Philadelphia sportscaster Don Tollefson knows he couldn't have gotten sober in prison without help. Now he mentors others. Tollefson and others talk about how best to help people who are dealing with substance use issues.
Dr. Fred Mirarchi, of University of Pittsburgh Medical Center - Hamot's Emergency Department, talks about how opioid overdose reversal drugs like Narcan act on the body and brain—and why they can’t always save someone.
Prescribed pain medication after a serious car accident, Alexis Johnson struggled with years of addiction, multiple overdoses, self-harm and jail sentences. Today, after three years in recovery, she's a successful model and motivational speaker with a message that spreads hope to those who have fallen on hard times.
Chris Wall died of an opioid overdose. But his death inspired the creation of a quiet retreat in Washington, PA, where others find solace and support in battling their addictions.
Every day in the U.S., 25 babies are born dependent on opioids. Lisa, who used heroin until she discovered she was 23 weeks pregnant, had to watch her baby, Isabella, go through opioid withdrawal. Lisa feels stigma prevents some pregnant women from getting the help they need.
Medication-assisted treatment is sometimes called the "gold standard" of addiction care. However, negative public perceptions surround treatment clinics. In this video, medical professionals and patients discuss providing and receiving the treatment they describe as life-changing.
Dr. Kim Burns, of the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine's School of Pharmacy, talks about the importance of Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs). PDMPs continue to be among the most promising state-level interventions to improve opioid prescribing, inform clinical practice, and protect patients at risk.
At Hogar Crea in Freemansburg, Pa., just outside Bethlehem, people struggling with substance use disorder submit to an intense, 20-month residential treatment program aimed at restoring the whole person and reclaiming lives.
