Post by Teresa on Feb 3, 2006 19:57:06 GMT -5
GPB Presents A Special Evening of Programming Focusing On The National Methamphetamine Crisis
Tuesday, February 14, 2006 from 9 – 11 PM
Experts From The Georgia Council on Substance Abuse and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Will Take
Viewer Calls in the GPB Studios
Georgia Public Broadcasting will present a special evening of programming on Tuesday, February 14 from 9 – 11 PM
that focuses on the methamphetamine crisis sweeping the nation and provide experts from the Georgia Council on
Substance Abuse and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office to take viewer calls throughout the evening.
The special evening of programming begins at 9 PM with the broadcast of Frontline’s new episode “The Meth
Epidemic.” The GPB original production The Georgia Meth Invasion will air at 10 PM.
In “The Meth Epidemic,” Frontline partners with The Oregonian to investigate America’s addiction to meth and expose
the inherent conflict between the illegal drug trade and the legitimate $3 billion cold remedy business. What started as
a fad among motorcycle gangs in the 1970s has become big business, largely due to the efforts of two Mexican drug
runners who began smuggling ephedrine — the same chemical used to make over-the-counter cold remedies — into
California by the ton. Hundreds of illegal meth labs are now operating in the western United States, and the effects
are sweeping the nation.
Frontline will be followed at 10 PM by the GPB original production The Georgia Meth Invasion. Produced by GPB
Reporter David Zelski, the hour-long program will examine the effects of meth on Georgia communities and consists
of two components: a 30-minute documentary that will be followed by a GPB studio panel discussion with Georgians
involved in the fight against meth.
The Georgia Meth Invasion shares the devastating personal stories of people whose lives have been forever
changed by their own drug use or that of loved ones.
(More…) GPB Meth Crisis Programming – Page 2
Among those interviewed is Ashley Smith, who gained national acclaim in March of 2005 when she was taken hostage
by Fulton County Courthouse accused shooter Brian Nichols and eventually helped police capture him. Smith talks
about her struggles with meth and how she once felt controlled by it. GPB also conducted an exclusive interview with
convicted serial killer Jeremy Jones. Jones was sentenced to death in December 2005 for the murder of 44-year-old
Lisa Nichols of Mobile, Alabama. He has also been charged with the murder of 16-year-old Amanda Greenwell of
Douglas County, and he is a suspect in more than 20 murder cases police believe were directly related to his use of
meth.
The second half of The Georgia Meth Invasion will feature a panel discussion with Georgia Council on Substance
Abuse Executive Director Becky Vaughn; Special Investigator Jesse Hambrick of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office;
meth treatment expert Merrill Norton, of the Metro Atlanta Recovery Residences; and former meth addict Jason Jones,
who is featured in the documentary and now speaks out about the dangers of the drug.
The panelists will address questions and concerns about meth, including how to identify someone who is a meth user,
who to call if you suspect a neighbor is manufacturing or distributing meth, and where to go for treatment of a meth
addiction.
Viewers can also call the GPB studios toll-free throughout the evening of programming at 1-888-685-2815 to speak
with meth experts from the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office about their
concerns.
Georgia Public Broadcasting is Television, Radio and Education: your PBS station serving all of Georgia; your source
for great music and NPR news; and Georgia's source for top-quality multiple media educational products and services.
Watch Georgia Public Broadcasting on these nine stations across Georgia: Atlanta – Channel 8; Albany -
WABW/14, Augusta - WCES/20, Chatsworth - WCLP/18, Columbus - WJSP/28, Dawson - WACS/25, Macon -
WDCO/29, Savannah - WVAN/9, Waycross - WXGA/8.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006 from 9 – 11 PM
Experts From The Georgia Council on Substance Abuse and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Will Take
Viewer Calls in the GPB Studios
Georgia Public Broadcasting will present a special evening of programming on Tuesday, February 14 from 9 – 11 PM
that focuses on the methamphetamine crisis sweeping the nation and provide experts from the Georgia Council on
Substance Abuse and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office to take viewer calls throughout the evening.
The special evening of programming begins at 9 PM with the broadcast of Frontline’s new episode “The Meth
Epidemic.” The GPB original production The Georgia Meth Invasion will air at 10 PM.
In “The Meth Epidemic,” Frontline partners with The Oregonian to investigate America’s addiction to meth and expose
the inherent conflict between the illegal drug trade and the legitimate $3 billion cold remedy business. What started as
a fad among motorcycle gangs in the 1970s has become big business, largely due to the efforts of two Mexican drug
runners who began smuggling ephedrine — the same chemical used to make over-the-counter cold remedies — into
California by the ton. Hundreds of illegal meth labs are now operating in the western United States, and the effects
are sweeping the nation.
Frontline will be followed at 10 PM by the GPB original production The Georgia Meth Invasion. Produced by GPB
Reporter David Zelski, the hour-long program will examine the effects of meth on Georgia communities and consists
of two components: a 30-minute documentary that will be followed by a GPB studio panel discussion with Georgians
involved in the fight against meth.
The Georgia Meth Invasion shares the devastating personal stories of people whose lives have been forever
changed by their own drug use or that of loved ones.
(More…) GPB Meth Crisis Programming – Page 2
Among those interviewed is Ashley Smith, who gained national acclaim in March of 2005 when she was taken hostage
by Fulton County Courthouse accused shooter Brian Nichols and eventually helped police capture him. Smith talks
about her struggles with meth and how she once felt controlled by it. GPB also conducted an exclusive interview with
convicted serial killer Jeremy Jones. Jones was sentenced to death in December 2005 for the murder of 44-year-old
Lisa Nichols of Mobile, Alabama. He has also been charged with the murder of 16-year-old Amanda Greenwell of
Douglas County, and he is a suspect in more than 20 murder cases police believe were directly related to his use of
meth.
The second half of The Georgia Meth Invasion will feature a panel discussion with Georgia Council on Substance
Abuse Executive Director Becky Vaughn; Special Investigator Jesse Hambrick of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office;
meth treatment expert Merrill Norton, of the Metro Atlanta Recovery Residences; and former meth addict Jason Jones,
who is featured in the documentary and now speaks out about the dangers of the drug.
The panelists will address questions and concerns about meth, including how to identify someone who is a meth user,
who to call if you suspect a neighbor is manufacturing or distributing meth, and where to go for treatment of a meth
addiction.
Viewers can also call the GPB studios toll-free throughout the evening of programming at 1-888-685-2815 to speak
with meth experts from the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office about their
concerns.
Georgia Public Broadcasting is Television, Radio and Education: your PBS station serving all of Georgia; your source
for great music and NPR news; and Georgia's source for top-quality multiple media educational products and services.
Watch Georgia Public Broadcasting on these nine stations across Georgia: Atlanta – Channel 8; Albany -
WABW/14, Augusta - WCES/20, Chatsworth - WCLP/18, Columbus - WJSP/28, Dawson - WACS/25, Macon -
WDCO/29, Savannah - WVAN/9, Waycross - WXGA/8.