Bethlehem, PA. – January 27, 2020 – Battling Opioids, a project from the seven Pennsylvania public media stations, returns for part four and will address current and new treatments as they relate to the ongoing opioid crisis. Part four will premiere on PBS39/WLVT at 11:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 30, 2020.

Pennsylvania experienced a drop in fatal overdoses in 2018 — an 18 percent decrease. However, according to a report from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, there has been a decrease in some counties while the crisis has significantly increased in other parts of the commonwealth. In this series’ fourth installment, viewers can hear personal stories of recovery from across the state in addition to an in-studio panel discussion moderated by Paola Giangiacomo.

“The enormity of the opioid crisis in Pennsylvania has united the public broadcasting stations throughout our state in an effort to rally our communities and fight back,” Tim Fallon, Chief Executive Officer of Lehigh Valley Public Media said. “As part of this very important project, PBS39 believes we can help save lives by connecting people who seek information and support with sources of assistance across Pennsylvania.”

Battling Opioids Part Four will look forward to special panelists including: Senator Gene Yaw, representing Pennsylvania’s 23rd Senatorial District, Jesse Miller, Director of Drug and Alcohol Programs at Robinson Counseling Service Center of Wyoming Valley, John Jezick, Community Recovery Specialist with Treatment Trends in Allentown, Cammie Anderson, Certified Prevention Specialist and Maria Kolcharno, Director of Addiction Services at The Wright Center for Community Health.

Visit PBS39.org to watch the first three parts of this series or visit battlingopioids.org/podcasts to listen. Check your local listings to find PBS39/WLVT on your cable or satellite provider.

About Lehigh Valley Public Media™
Lehigh Valley Public Media™, home of PBS39/WLVT, WLVR, and WPPT, acts as the catalyst to promote civic engagement, and to fulfill the regional needs of the Greater Lehigh Valley, through its dynamic communication platforms and resources. The Reporter Corps® creates community-focused content for PBS39 News Tonight, digital platforms, and WLVR. Lehigh Valley Public Media and United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley are partnering to fund and fulfill the regional literacy initiative Lehigh Valley Reads. This campaign is working to ensure all Lehigh Valley students read on grade level by the end of third grade by 2025. Lehigh Valley Public Media is a community-owned public media organization serving eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Lehigh Valley Public Media is licensed in Allentown to the Lehigh Valley Public Telecommunications Corporation. For more information, visit PBS39.org.

About Battling Opioids
Battling Opioids is a project of seven Pennsylvania of Public Media stations. 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. Neither people nor communities can fight this battle alone. 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—but 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 PBS39/WLVT (Greater Lehigh Valley), WHYY (Philadelphia), WITF (Harrisburg), 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.

 

Information provided to TVL by:
Victoria Scialfa
Marketing and Public Relations Manager
Lehigh Valley Public Media

 

 

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