Syracuse University hosts public showing of HBO’s ‘Addiction’ series

Syracuse University hosts public showing of HBO’s ‘Addiction’ seriesApril 04, 2007Gillian Ottmangeottma@syr.edu

The Department of Health and Wellness in SU’s College of Human Services and Health Professions (HSHP) and SU’s Office of Prevention Services will host a community viewing of the HBO “Addiction” series on Monday, April 9, at 8 p.m. in Room 107 of the Hall of Languages. Parking is available in SU pay lots.

One in four Americans has a family member who is struggling with addiction. In 2005, 23.2 million Americans needed treatment for their illicit drug or alcohol abuse problems, yet only about 10 percent received the treatment they needed.

HBO, in partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the National Institute on Drug Addiction and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, has produced an unprecedented multimedia campaign aimed at helping Americans understand addiction as a treatable brain disease, as well as spotlighting new medical advancements.

The “Addiction” project targets anyone concerned about addiction — addicted individuals themselves or their family and friends — and who is searching for a better understanding of what addiction is and how to find effective treatment.

The segments of the series that will be shown include “The Adolescent Addict,” “A Mother’s Desperation,” “Saturday Night in a Dallas ER” and “Brain Imaging.” The presentation of the HBO documentary will be followed by a discussion with the audience facilitated by experts in the field of addiction. These experts include Dessa Bergen-Cico, faculty member in the Department of Health and Wellness in HSHP, and Matt Keichle, substance abuse counselor in the Office of Prevention Services in the Division of Student Affairs at SU.

For the first time, HBO will use all of its digital platforms for this series, including the HBO main service, multiplex channels, HBO On Demand, podcasts, web streams and DVD sales.

Town meetings and other public events are being organized in communities across the country focusing on the “Addiction” series. To learn more about events being held nationwide and this HBO series, visit http://www.addictionaction.org.