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WXXI News Coverage of Overdose Epidemic Stories & Talk Shows On-Demand

WXXI News Coverage of Overdose Epidemic Reports On-Demand 

Public media stations across New York state are focusing on the overdose crisis with a year-long multi-platform campaign, including news coverage. Funding for this program is provided in part by the New York State Education Department. Watch the stories here on-demand

Local WXXI News Stories are included here: 

Monroe County Executive, Adam Bello, gives his state of the county address on healthcare at Monroe Community Hospital where he announced new initiates to help address the housing crisis.

Local News Bello address focuses on opioids, housing, and mental health, June 3, 2024 The Monroe County executive also said that the first county-owned emergency housing facility should open this summer. LISTEN • 1:13

Deborah Leach the Addiction Services Outreach Supervisor for Monroe County stocks Naloxone at Nick's Super Stone on Monroe Ave. in Rochester. The store is in a high opioid use area and one of the business that provides the community access to the counties free Naloxone to reverse the deadly effects of opioids.

Local News: Fatal opioid and cocaine overdoses on the rise in Monroe County, November 30, 2023 The county has released its 2022 Overdose Fatalities Report and it shows that a record number of people died from opioid overdoses.

Local News: Every public city building to stock Narcan, November 9, 2023 All buildings owned by the city and accessible to the public will carry the opioid-reversal drug naloxone, under a bill introduced by Mayor Malik Evans and Council President Miguel Melendez.

Local News: Monroe County lawmakers move to tighten laws on pawnshops and similar businesses, August 22, 2023 Almost every county legislator has signed on as a sponsor of the legislation, virtually assuring that it will pass.

Dave and Kate Gibbons

Local News: Fentanyl killed their daughter. Now this couple is trying to prevent the next tragedy, July 17, 2023 Officials say fentanyl overdoses are the fastest growing cause of death among young people aged 14 to 23. One Pittsford couple hopes their story can make a difference.

Local News: Local recovery experts have mixed feelings about over the counter Narcan, March 30, 2023 Some local recovery experts are reacting to the FDA’s decision this week to approve over-the-counter sales for the overdose reversal drug Narcan.

Man with smartphone

Local News: Harm reduction is the goal of this drug use hotline. Experts say it works, March 21, 2023 Volunteers at the Never Use Alone hotline wait on the phone while callers use drugs, in case they need someone to call for an ambulance. LISTEN • 4:04

Julia Reischel looks through a chart showing how much Narcan her team has distributed in the past few weeks. Reischel runs the Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome program at Margaretville Hospital.

Local News: Stigma, barriers to care put pregnant people, new parents with opioid use disorder at risk, March 2, 2023The number of pregnant people or postpartum parents in the U.S. who died from an opioid overdose grew by 81% in the past six years, according to a recent study. It’s a significant increase compared to other people who use opioids.LISTEN • 5:07

Deborah Leach, the addiction services outreach supervisor for Monroe County, stocks naloxone at Nick's Super Store on Monroe Avenue in Rochester. The store is in a high opioid use area and is one of the businesses that provides the community access to the county's free Naloxone to reverse the deadly effects of opioids.

Local News: Harm reduction strategy aims to save lives, one Narcan box at a time, February 17, 2023 The overdose crisis continues to be felt locally. To combat this epidemic, Monroe County has implemented various harm reduction strategies, which includes NaloxBoxes.

Local News Forum: New York State Public Media Special Report: ‘COVID-19 and the Overdose Epidemic’ , At 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023, WXXI hosts a statewide discussion on how the pandemic and the response have exacerbated New York’s overdose epidemic.

Patient talks to a medical provider.

Local News: Providers working to combat opioid and overdose crisis can apply for state funding, February 13, 2023 Gov. Kathy Hochul said last week that the state will provide almost $9 million for outpatient treatment programs to combat the statewide opioid and overdose crisis.

Dr. Michael Mendoza, Monroe County's health commissioner, speaks at a news conference Friday, Jan. 20, 2023, about the county's new opioids data dashboard.

Local News: New opioid data dashboard will be used to develop strategy to address crisis in Monroe County, January 20, 2023 Monroe County officials say that an opioid data dashboard they introduced Friday will provide government agencies, law enforcement, health care systems, and advocacy groups with more timely data to help fight the opioid epidemic.

Monroe County Exec. Adam Bello demonstrates how to use the county's new interactive map that shows were boxes of Narcan are located countywide.

Local News: Monroe County among locations chosen for new opioid crisis campaign launch, October 21, 2022 A nationwide campaign to fight the overdose crisis has selected Monroe County as one of the locations to help jump-start its initiatives.

Monroe County Executive Adam Bello unveils new cases of Naloxone in the fight against overdose.

Local News: Monroe County launches new campaign to address fentanyl overdose crisis, July 21, 2022 Local health and community leaders gathered on Thursday to announce additional efforts to help fight the opioid crisis.


Connections with Evan Dawson Live Talk Show Podcasts from WXXI News

December 15, 2023 Podcast: Discussing the state of overdoses in Monroe County and how to curb the local opioid crisis

November 6, 2023 Podcast: Matthew Perry, opioids, and what states can do about the opioid epidemic

May 24, 2023 Podcast: Former Biden administration official Robert Kent on addressing the overdose crisis

March 13 2023 Podcast: Avi Israel on the overdose epidemic and his family’s story

February 15, 2023 Podcast: Fentanyl 101

January 17, 2023 Podcast: How a local coffee shop is helping people in recovery

December 13, 2022 Podcast: Previewing the film, “All the Beauty and the Bloodshed,” and discussing what fuels the opioid epidemic

Connections with Evan Dawson Talk Show from 2/15/23 Listen to the Fentanyl 101 Podcast

Fentanyl 101 Show Mike Favata, James Wesley, and Dr. Timothy Wiegand on “Connections with Evan Dawson” on Wednesday, February 15, 2023 Photo credit: Megan Mack/WXXI News
PBS Newhour Coverage of Fentanyl Stories: Watch Here
PBS Newshour Coverage of Overdose Stories: Watch Here

This program is part of the New York State Public Media Overdose Epidemic, an initiative funded by the New York State Education Department that has called on NYS public media organizations to create a multi-platform project to help address mental health and addiction throughout the state. The project includes broadcast offerings, online content, and special events, like this screening. The NYS stations will also work to create comprehensive digital teaching tools, online learning, and essential instructional content.

New York State’s Covid-19 and The Overdose Epidemic On-Demand

Watch the On-Demand Archive of this Live Forum: WXXI News’ Evan Dawson hosts a statewide discussion on how the pandemic and the response have exacerbated the ongoing overdose epidemic.

Medical experts, government officials, non-profit organizations, and New York residents will share how the pandemic and the response have exacerbated the ongoing overdose epidemic in New York State Public Media Special Report: COVID-19 and the Overdose Epidemic, aired Thursday, February 16 at 8 p.m. on WXXI-TV and on PBS stations across New York State.

Watch the On-Demand Archive from the Live Forum that took place February 16, 2023

WXXI News’ Evan Dawson hosts. Expert guests included:

Chinazo O. Cunningham, M.D., commissioner of the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports

Indu Gupta, M.D., former commissioner of health at the Onondaga County Health Department, and former co-chair of the Onondaga County Drug Task Force

Elaine Hill, Ph.D., associate professor of public health sciences and economics at the University of Rochester Medical Center

Avi Israel, president and founder of Save the Michaels of the World, an organization that raises awareness of prescription and other drug addictions

PBS LearningMedia Resources on Substance Abuse

Educators and families are encourage to utilize the learning materials below to help contextualize the public health crisis presented by the overdose epidemic. Materials include classroom-ready resources and collections featuring videos and interactive lessons on PBS LearningMedia. See search results for opioids.

PBS LearningMedia The Healthy Kid Project: Substance Misuse

Grades 6-12

Substance Abuse and Drugs: The Healthy Kids Project encourages a younger audience to make positive choices for their mental and physical health with videos and support materials for teachers and students. An interactive lesson and support materials aimed at high school students examines how different types of drugs alter their brains. 

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NOVA: Addiction | PBS LearningMedia Collection

Grades 6-12
The opioid epidemic continues to devastate communities across the United States. This collection of videos, including three from the NOVA documentary, Addiction, can be used to engage students with media, encourage science practices, and prompt discussions in the classroom. Through a series of video clips, a viewing guide for the video clips, and a community screening guide for the documentary, the collection will help students better understand opioids and the disease of addiction.

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Understanding the Opioid Epidemic | PBS LearningMedia Collection

Grades 6-12
Understanding the Opioid Epidemic, a one-hour documentary from WNED, traces the causes behind the unprecedented growth in the use of prescription opioids and the devastating impact these drugs are having in every part of America. This accompanying collection of classroom resources is based on the documentary as well as important themes such as misperception of opioid safety, community awareness, brain science, stigma, and the struggles associated with treatment and recovery.

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How Should Schools Educate Teens about Drugs? | Above the Noise

Grades 6-12
D.A.R.E. stands for drug abuse resistance education and is a program that was implemented in schools since the 80’s to prevent youth from doing drugs. The program was widely accepted by schools all over the country, but scientists found it wasn’t really effective. Fast forward to present day and D.A.R.E is still around… sort of. Myles investigates how D.A.R.E. has changed their curriculum and other ways that drug education is being taught in schools. Join him in answering the question: How should schools educate teens about drugs?

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The War on Drugs: The New Face of Heroin | Retro Report

Grades 9-12
This 14-minute video provides students with historical context that explains how the United States committed to a multi-decade war on drugs that resulted in mass incarceration and racially unequal outcomes in the criminal justice system. State and federal governments responded to a heroin epidemic in the late 1960s with a punitive response to drug addiction that disproportionately affected racial minorities. That approach has grown increasingly unpopular as more white Americans have become addicted to opioids. Useful for lessons focused on racial equality and criminal justice reform in recent history, the video sets up an engaging class discussion on how historical context affects our perceptions of race and crime.

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Inside Opioid Addiction | Interactive Lesson

Grades 9-12
Learn about the nationwide opioid crisis, its devastating impact on communities and families, and how agencies and individuals are pulling together to respond to this overwhelming public health crisis. In this interactive lesson, students will gather information through reading, activities, and video excerpts from KET’s opioid initiative to write a final essay about what the opioid epidemic is, what caused it, and what’s being done about it.

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Sesame Street in Communities:

Sesame Street in Communities provides hundreds of bilingual multi-media tools to help kids and families enrich and expand their knowledge during the early years of birth through six, a critical window for brain development. Sesame Street’s resources engage kids and adults in everyday moments and daily routines—from teaching early math and literacy concepts, to encouraging families to eat nutritious foods, to serious topics such as grief and food insecurity. Through ongoing collaboration, training experiences, and local partnerships, the Sesame Street in Communities initiative evolves and helps make a difference.  Resources are online and available at no cost to families and caregivers.

Mom and two children reading a book in a park setting with Abbey Cadabbey muppet from Sesame Street

Sesame Street in Communities provides different topics, each with resources that help kids (and parents!) with what matters most in young lives: health and wellness, social-emotional skills, and school readiness. All are critical to children’s healthy development and together they build the foundation for a happy, healthy life. All of the following topics are available on the Sesame Street in Communities website or via clicking on the individual topics below: Topic videos are additionally available in English & Spanish on the Sesame Street In Communities YouTube channel

Learn More:

About Sesame Street in Communities

Independent Lens: Love in the Time of Fentanyl

Airs Monday, February 13 at 10 p.m. on WXXI-TV

As deaths in Vancouver, Canada reach an all-time high, the Overdose Prevention Society opens its doors—a renegade supervised drug consumption site that employs active and former drug users. Its staff and volunteers do whatever it takes to save lives and give hope to a marginalized community in this intimate documentary that looks beyond the stigma of people who use fentanyl and other drugs. Independent Lens: Love in a Time of Fentanyl premieres Monday, February 13, 2023 at 10 p.m. on WXXI-TV.

This broadcast is part of New York State Public Media Overdose Epidemic, an initiative funded by the New York State Education Department that has called on NYS public media organizations to create a multi-platform project to help address mental health and addiction throughout the state. Additional programming will air in WXXI-TV the week of February 13-19,2023.

Making Black America: Through the Grapevine

 Hosted by Henry Louis Gates, Jr., this four-part series chronicles the vast social networks and organizations created by and for Black people—beyond the reach of the “White gaze.” Professor Gates sits with noted scholars, politicians, cultural leaders, and old friends to discuss this world behind the color line and what it looks like today. Making Black America: Through the Grapevine airs Fridays, February 3 and February 10 at 9 p.m. on WXXI-TV.

Screening: Free Chol Soo Lee

Chol Soo Lee: A Korean immigrant wrongfully convicted of murder who inspired a movement to free him

Free Chol Soo Lee

Join WXXI for a special screening and discussion of Free Chol Soo Lee on Monday, March 27, 2023 at 6:30-8:30pm at The Little Theatre. The rollercoaster life story of Chol Soo Lee, a Korean immigrant wrongfully convicted of murder. Sentenced to life for a 1973 San Francisco murder, Korean immigrant Chol Soo Lee was set free after a pan-Asian solidarity movement, which included Korean, Japanese, and Chinese Americans, helped to overturn his conviction. After 10 years of fighting for his life inside California state prisons, Lee found himself in a new fight to rise to the expectations of the people who believed in him.

https://youtu.be/VdZW3O2RA8o
Watch the Trailer
A Report About the Documentary

Film Description: Sentenced to death for a 1973 San Francisco murder, Korean immigrant Chol Soo Lee was set free after a pan-Asian solidarity movement of Korean, Japanese, and Chinese Americans helped to overturn his conviction. After 10 years of fighting for his life inside San Quentin, Lee found himself in a new fight to rise to the expectations of the people who believed in him. On his journey from an inspiring icon to a swing-shift janitor struggling with drug addiction, Chol Soo Lee personifies the ravages of America’s prison industrial complex Learn More About the Film https://www.pbs.org/independentlens/documentaries/free-chol-soo-lee/

Indie Lens Pop-Up is all about the group viewing experience and the conversations that this experience enables. By bringing together Independent Lens content, people who can connect that content to local issues, and members of the community, Indie Lens Pop-Up exemplifies the Independent Lens purpose of sparking conversations.

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