Radio stations in Ohio airing Think Outside the Stigma public awareness spot
(Columbus, OH-January 20, 2010) A new radio public
service announcement is airing in Ohio that aims to diminish the stigma surrounding addiction and mental illness.
The public
awareness campaign, Think Outside the Stigma, which is shared by the Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction (ODADAS) and the
Ohio Department of Mental Health focuses on four key tenets: alcohol and other drug addictions and mental illnesses are brain diseases;
they can affect anyone; they are treatable and individuals with brain diseases should not be discriminated against. Alcohol and other
drug treatment services allow individuals to accept responsibility for their actions and begin their path of recovery.
“It is
important to inform the public that addiction is a brain disease,” said ODADAS Director Angela Cornelius Dawson. “No one chooses to
have diabetes, heart disease, or cancer and thus no one chooses to have an addiction. When Ohio reduces the stigma associated with
substance abuse and mental illness, the quicker individuals can receive the services they need to live a full and productive life.
This public service announcement is an important part of chipping away at that stigma. We want to inform the state about the financial,
emotional and physical problems associated with addiction and how we, as a state, can collectively overcome these issues through awareness.”
The:
30 radio PSA, which can be heard by clicking this link http://www.acdigitalpost.com/ODADAS/index.aspx and downloading the
audio file, is currently being aired in Northeast Ohio on the following stations through the end of February:
· WDOK-FM
· WENZ-FM
· WKRK-FM
· WNCX-FM
· WQAL-FM
· WZAK-FM
TheThink Outside the Stigma public awareness campaign was created by behavioral health, treatment/prevention addiction, and criminal
justice professionals. The Cleveland Clinic and Cardinal Health have recently partnered with ODADAS to expand the public awareness
of the campaign. In 2007, the campaign was recognized by Congress with a bi-partisan resolution.
Media Contact: ODADAS Communications
Chief Amanda Conn Starner connstarner@ada.ohio.gov or (614) 644-8456.