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About
Silent Treatment
Silent Treatment:
Addiction in America
is a national, multi-media public education initiative
that places a media spotlight on addiction and treatment
issues to promote consumer awareness and spark change
across the country. The centerpiece is a five-part
newspaper series distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune
News Service free to newspapers across the United
States, enhanced by a project Web site and digital
outreach. The series will be available August 2, just
in time to kick off September’s National Recovery Month
events.
Silent Treatment
provides an opportunity for advocacy and research groups
focused on addiction issues to expand current outreach
efforts. Groups are encouraged to partner with print and
broadcast media to localize the series, connect the
public to resources and develop progressive ways to
mobilize their communities.
Why start with a newspaper series?
Newspapers bring issues before the public, opinion
leaders and lawmakers. A series of five 1,500-word
newspaper articles can explore and explain complex
facets of an issue, giving readers much more than a
“sound bite” that’s quickly forgotten. It also offers
editors a welcome jumping-off point to tell local
stories. Many newspapers and their Web sites are
expected to carry the series, and national television
and radio shows will pick up on the coverage as well.
The series and resulting coverage can be used to draw
attention to one of the many upcoming national
commemorations, such as National Recovery Month,
National Addiction Counselor's Day and National Red
Ribbon Week. The articles also will live on in reprints
distributed to the public, policymakers and experts. The
project’s dedicated Web site at
www.silenttreatment.info
will build on the momentum of the series, reaching the
wide, diverse online community with an array of
downloadable resources.
What will it cover?
The
Silent Treatment
project will examine the current state of addiction
treatment, access and recovery in America. More
important, by offering compelling personal stories,
proactive resources and practical tips,
Silent
Treatment
will
open a window on solutions being implemented in
communities across the country. The series, Web site and
broadcasts which make up the project’s targeted media
outreach will present practical information that links
the public to user-friendly resources on addiction
issues.
Silent
Treatment
is designed to spark a national dialogue and community
action by offering:
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Innovative perspectives on the issues of addiction,
treatment and recovery
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Compelling personal tales told through newspaper
articles, broadcasts, an online recovery blog and
podcasts
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Promising new
strategies being integrated into treatment that
increase the odds of successful recovery
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Valuable resources and
networks, how-to guides and the latest research on
causes of addiction, treatment access, recovery,
public policy initiatives and healthcare trends
What can you do?
A
critical element to
Silent Treatment’s
success is the cumulative energy generated across the
country by the many organizations committed to
increasing access to treatment and supporting prevention
and recovery as part of their advocacy and outreach
efforts. We encourage you to partner with other
organizations in your community to approach your local
media. Ask newspapers to run the series and write their
own stories on people and programs in your area. Work
with newspapers, radio and TV stations to sponsor local
events and/or provide local coverage of the event(s) you
have planned to celebrate National Recovery Month.
Who is leading the way?
The
project is supported by the Robert Wood Johnson
Foundation and produced by Public Access Journalism LLC,
an independent media company. The series is distributed
nationwide by Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service.
The ad-hoc advisory board for the Silent Treatment
initiative includes:
Susan Aaroma, Join Together
Chuck Alexander, Bridging
the Gap
Johnny Allem, Johnson
Institute
Jessica Athens, Paths to Recovery
Jean Bailey, National
African American Drug Policy Coalition
Darla Bardine and Celia
Asinor, Rebecca Project for Human Rights
Paul Costiglio, The
Partnership for a Drug-Free America, Inc.
Nancy Dudley, Carnevale
Associates, LLC
Alissa Kampner Rudin,
Family Justice Inc.
Thomas McLellan, Treatment
Research Institute Inc.
Marisa Nightingale,
National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy
Prabhu Ponkshe, Substance
Abuse Policy Research Program
Mac Prichard, Reclaiming Futures
Judy Schector &
Dennis
Tartaglia,
Developing Leadership in Reducing Substance Abuse
Joseph Schmidt, Center on
Alcohol Marketing and Youth
Howard
Shapiro, State Associations of Addiction Services (SAAS)
Helen Stubbs,
The Center for College
Health and Safety
Patricia Taylor, Faces and
Voices of Recovery
Doug
Tieman, Caron Foundation
Ivette Torres, National
Recovery Month, SAMHSA
Janet Williams, A Matter of
Degree and American Medical Association
Jennifer Wheeler, New
Futures
If
you need help developing a strategy for approaching your
local media or have questions about how to capitalize on
this media event, contact:
Sherri Roff, Project Coordinator
Public Access Journalism LLC
(518)
634-7203
sroff@pajournalism.com
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