KET has received national recognition for its Inside Opioid Addiction initiative, an ongoing effort to explore the many dimensions of Kentucky’s opioid crisis and to present pathways toward solutions – including an investigation of various treatment options.

KET is one of six recipients of the 2018 Media Awards presented by Mental Health America (MHA). The awards recognize journalists, authors, media outlets, programs and filmmakers that “have not shied away from issues of mental illness and addiction – and in doing so, have educated, informed and helped break down stigma and shame around these issues,” according to MHA’s release to announce the awards.

“The goal of KET’s opioid addiction initiative is to elevate awareness of the complex issues that surround this public health crisis,” said Shae Hopkins, KET’s executive director and CEO. “On behalf of our staff and partners, we are honored to receive this recognition.”

KET’s Inside Opioid Addiction initiative has produced nearly 30 broadcast programs, including the 2017 documentary Journey to Recovery, which shared first-hand accounts of citizens seeking treatment for substance use disorder, as well as last year’s Inside Opioid Addiction Forum, a town-hall style discussion that brought together leaders across Kentucky’s law enforcement, mental health, education and labor sectors to discuss strategies for addressing the state’s opioid epidemic. All of KET’s opioid coverage is archived and available online at KET.org/opioids.

“This recognition validates KET’s years-long commitment to addressing addiction and mental health issues through a voluminous library of broadcast programs and online content focused on erasing stigma, exploring recovery options, highlighting community responses and providing platforms for in-depth policy discussions,” said Renee Shaw, KET Public Affairs managing producer and host. “I am immensely proud of our dedicated team for their ongoing efforts to help us all understand the complexities of addiction.”

KET will accept its MHA Media Award on June 15 in Washington, D.C., during the annual MHA Media Award luncheon.

KET’s Inside Opioid Addiction initiative was funded in part by the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky.

KET is Kentucky’s largest classroom, where learning comes to life for more than one million people each week via television, online and mobile. Learn more about Kentucky’s preeminent public media organization at KET.org, on Twitter @KET and at facebook.com/KET.

Contact:

Todd Piccirilli
Senior Director, Marketing and Communications
859-258-7242
tpiccirilli@ket.org