ROSWELL, Ga., March 19, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- The upcoming 14-part documentary series by HBO, "Addiction in America." is the catalyst for a town hall meeting this Wednesday evening, March 21, beginning a 7 p.m. at Roswell High School. This local event is part of a nationwide program to increase understanding and awareness of the problem of addiction among teenagers in our area. A distinguished panel of local addictions specialists will discuss this crisis and provide insight into identifying, understanding and treating adolescent addiction. Former State Senator Robert Lamutt will moderate the panel, which will include renowned psychologist Robert Margolis, Ph.D., a local addictions treatment specialist, Ashraf Attalla, MD, of the Ridgeview Institute, a mental health and addictions hospital in Smyrna, and Heather Hayes, an interventionist, John Brocard, a local attorney whose practice focuses on adolescents. In addition, local parents who have faced the addiction of own teenagers will be on hand to discuss their personal experiences.
The town hall meeting at Roswell High School is sponsored by Phoenix Outdoor and the Asheville House, two local organizations that treat adolescent addiction. "HBO brought together some of the industry's best documentary filmmakers to take on the subject of addiction," said Carolyn Bradfield, founder and CEO of Phoenix Outdoor and the Asheville House. "The film, 'Addiction in America' was born from the frustration of a top HBO executive whose son struggled with alcohol and cocaine addiction. Many of us have faced this struggle and this documentary shows the real life frustrations of families trying to cope with the devastating effects of addiction."
HBO initiated the project "Addiction" because of the enormous impact the disease has on families. "There has been a shift in understanding about the causes of addiction," said co-producer John Hoffman. "And there is room for us to use our power as a mass-media company to change attitudes and opinions." The documentary shows that new science is revealing not only how drugs and alcohol can hijack the brain, but is providing new hope for treatment. The subtitle of the HBO Addiction project is "New Knowledge. New Treatments. New Hope."
About the Documentary -- Addiction
The feature-length documentary film "Addiction" brings together the nation's leading experts with award-winning filmmakers. It consists of nine separate segments, including: "Saturday Night in a Dallas ER," by Jon Alpert; "A Mother's Desperation," by Susan Froemke and Albert Maysles; "The Science of Relapse," by Eugene Jarecki and Susan Froemke; "The Adolescent Addict," by Kate Davis and David Heilbroner; "Brain Imaging," by Liz Garbus and Rory Kennedy; "Opiate Addiction: A New Medication," by D.A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus; "Topiramate: A Clinical Trial for Alcoholism," by Alan and Susan Raymond; "Steamfitters Local Union 638," by Barbara Kopple; and "Insurance Woes," by Susan Froemke. "Addiction" is produced by John Hoffman and Susan Froemke; executive produced by Sheila Nevins.
HBO is launching a multimedia project on addiction that includes a 90-minute documentary, 13 half-hour segments, four hour-long documentaries, a book, a Web site, podcasts, a four-volume set of DVDs, and town hall meetings nationwide.
About Phoenix Outdoor
Phoenix Outdoor LLC is a licensed therapeutic adolescent wilderness program that provides comprehensive crisis intervention and assessment for teenagers ages 13-17 and their families. With administrative offices in Atlanta, and its base camp and wilderness operation in the mountains of western North Carolina, Phoenix Outdoor is engineered to intervene in a crisis and provide a safe means to help teenagers stop harmful behavior and motivate positive choices in their lives. Phoenix combines proven treatment strategies with a coordinated family support program.
Phoenix Outdoor recently launched an in depth Substance Abuse and Addictions Program (SAAP), as a specialized treatment focus for a portion of its students. The new program offers primary care substance abuse and addictions treatment for adolescents within the broader Phoenix Outdoor wilderness program experience. For more information visit www.phoenixoutdoor.com.
About Asheville House
Asheville House is a 3 to 6 month transitional living program for adolescents in their latter years of high school or early years of college. The program works with individuals who have been in drug and alcohol treatment, wilderness therapy, residential treatment programs, or therapeutic boarding schools.
A structured and supportive home environment helps adolescents reintegrate with the community, learn how to live a substance-free life, and better prepare to rejoin their families and friends. For more information visit www.ashevillehouse.net.