Press | News special ‘To Save a Life: A National Fentanyl Alarm’ features DopaGE CEO
In addition to the Oct. 31 premiere, the 1-hour special will also air on Scripps News on the following dates and times:
● November - 9 p.m. ET
● November - 9 p.m. ET
● November 2 - 10 a.m. ET
●November 3 - 10 a.m. ET
Excerpted from the Press Release:
“Acclaimed journalists and filmmakers John Donvan and Caren Zucker examine America’s ongoing fentanyl crisis, concentrating on saving lives and educating people about the dangers of the drug, as well as demonstrating how to reverse the effects of an overdose.
Along with other parents, Zucker shares the story of her own heartbreaking experience of losing her son Jonah to fentanyl in a powerful new special that she co-produced, “To Save a Life: A National Fentanyl Alarm.” The special will be broadcast on Scripps News at 9 p.m. on Oct. 31 and available on all streaming platforms.
“Alarm bells are sounding for the fentanyl crisis, but not enough people seem to be hearing them,” Zucker said. “The proof for that is that kids keep dying – kids who had no idea they were even being exposed to this deadly drug, cynically deployed by dealers to expand their profits, whatever the cost. We want to change that, to get the warning across clearly, effectively and lastingly.”
Zucker’s son Jonah was 25 when he was poisoned by the synthetic opioid – which is so lethal that it only takes about two milligrams to kill an adult.”
DopaGE CEO, Madeline Hilliard, also an emergency department-trained Emergency Medical Technician (NR-EMT), was asked to join Zucker and Donovan’s team for the “To Save a Life” special to represent Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel who actively respond to 911 calls for overdose.
In the special, Hilliard concisely demonstrates the key steps for recognizing and responding to an opioid overdose with life saving actions - starting by knowing the signs and when to call 911 for EMS assistance - for the program’s national audience.
From behind the scenes (L to R): CoHost, Jon Donovan; CoHost and bereaved parent, Caren Zucker; DopaGE CEO and NR-EMT, Madeline Hilliard; bereaved parent-educator, Ed Ternan; American University professor and former DEA Deputy Chief of Staff, James Crotty. Hilliard visually demonstrates what a 2-milligram, lethal dose of fentanyl looks like using salt to represent the odorless white powder of illicit fentanyl.
Media contact: Molly Miossi, The E.W. Scripps Company, 513-977-3713, molly.miossi@scripps.com