Hearst’s Boston ABC affiliate WCVB is launching what it’s calling a “multi-pronged public service campaign” to bring attention to opioid use and addiction in Massachusetts.
Recent studies by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the City of Boston, in conjunction with various health care agencies, have determined that opioid use and addiction in Massachusetts have become an epidemic impacting every community and killing as many as 1,000 people in Massachusetts last year alone.
“Opioid addiction in the state has reached crisis proportions, and we want to educate our community of the seriousness and scope of this epidemic, how they can identify opioid use by family or friends, and what resources are available to those who need help,” said Bill Fine, WCVB gm. “By dedicating all of WCVB’s multi-platform resources to this public affairs campaign, we hope to curb addiction in the Commonwealth and help save lives.”
Today, the station is in all-day coverage, with stories about addiction, its effects and prevention. Coverage started this morning at 4:30 and will continue through to 7:30 p.m. From 7:30 to 8:00 p.m., the show Chronicle will travel to local communities to put a human face on the addiction crisis.
The station plans a 13 week campaign featuring news reports, psa’s, digital media coverage, community outreach and special public affairs programs.
Here’s a promo for the series: