Addiction to prescription painkillers, especially among young adults, is growing at an alarming rate in Western New York. In order to address this epidemic, BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York has formed a community outreach initiative to increase public awareness of prescription painkiller addiction, provide educational resources to schools, students, parents and community groups, and most importantly, to connect those in need with appropriate treatment resources.
That is why WBBZ-TV, Your Hometown Television Station, is joining in a community campaign to spread the message that pain killers can kill. Look for special messages and programming on Ch. 67.1; Time Warner Cable Ch. 5; Dish Ch. 5; FiOS Ch. 5; DirecTV 67.
Watch a special edition of "Political Buzz" -Tragedy & Hope: Stories of Painkiller Addiction Thursday morning at 9a.m.; and Sunday morning at 11a.m. This is the second of a series of specials that originally aired in December 2013.
Whether you or a family member has a connection to pain killer addiction, or want to learn more about how these medicines can kill if not taken properly, you need to watch.
Host John Di Sciullo will talk with guests from Prevention Focus; BlueCross Blue Shield; Horizon Health Services; and share personal stories from our studio audience with people who have lost loved ones, and others battling back from addiction.
Avi and Julie Israel, who lost their son Michael to painkiller addiction and led the campaign for this project and recent “I-STOP” legislation in Albany, will also appear.
WBBZ-TV owner Phil Arno commented, “Our station is proud to support this important cause. This is an excellent example of how our station, complete with audience facilities, can bring people together working with our partners to create relevant television.”
WBBZ-TV is proud to have been able to use segments from the WNED-TV produced documentary, and welcomed producer Lynne Bader to the program.
WBBZ-TV thanks Gretchen Fierle, Julie Snyder, Rob Kubiak, and Kyle Rogers from BCBSWNY for their help in producing this special, and organizing this important community initiative.
WBBZ is seen throughout Western New York over-the-air on digital channel 67.1. Ch. 5 on Verizon FiOS (HD 505); Ch 5 Dish; Ch. 67 DirecTV, and these Time Warner Cable channels: Buffalo – Niagara Falls Metro area: Channel 5 (HD 1230); Batavia – Genesee, Wyoming, Orleans Counties Channel 71 (HD 1230); Parts of Erie and Niagara Counties Channel 71 (HD 1230); Dunkirk Channel 99 (HD 1230); Olean Channel 21 (HD 1230); Fredonia – Jamestown Channel 71 (HD 1230); Alfred- Angelica- Avoca- Bath- Bolivar Friendship- Hornell Channel 71 (HD 1230).
WBBZ-TV is WNY’s only locally owned and operated television station. 4545 Transit Road, suite 750 Williamsville, NY 14221. 716-630-9229. www.wbbz.tv “Like” WBBZ-TV on Facebook. Follow the conversation @WBBZ on Twitter.
