LOCALS URGE VIEWING OF HBO ADDICTION SERIES

Sampson County officials are hoping that a televised documentary will
act to further shed light on addiction and its dire effects on not
only those addicted, but the community around them, with an emphasis
on treating that addiction as what it is -- a brain disease.

Several distinguished documentary filmmakers explored the current
state of addiction in America in nine segments, interweaving the
latest thinking on treatment and recovery by leading experts on drug
and alcohol addiction, picking the minds of accomplished experts in
psychology and psychiatry.

The result is the film `=91Addiction,'=92 an umbrella documentary on
addiction, which debuts tonight at 9 p.m. HBO has lined up 18 films on
the topic, most made specially for the series, to air over the weekend
on its cable channels.

Each of the short pieces included in `=91Addiction'=92 will be expanded
and shown separately through the weekend, along with four other
independent documentaries. Also, the network is embarking on a public
information campaign with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which
has kicked in $1.5 million to the project.

All of the documentaries will be available to download for free off
HBO's Web site. HBO also timed the series to air on one of its
periodic weekends where the service is offered for free to entice new
viewers.

The series strongly communicates the message of addiction as a brain
disease, which is not entirely accepted by the public or even the
medical community, said Nora Volkow, director of the National
Institute on Drug Abuse.

That is something that is at the heart of the thinking by officials
with the Sampson County Meth Task Force, the treatment of addiction as
a disease that should be cured before it leads to criminal activity.

=93Once we as a society look at this as being a brain disease, then we
can address it in a more aggressive manner and treat it as what it
is,=94 said J.W. Simmons, with Sampson Community College and active
member of the Sampson County Methamphetamine Task Force.

According to experts, approximately 23 million Americans struggle with
addiction, yet fewer than 10 percent are getting treatment. Often,
addiction leads to a struggle to continue to feed that addiction -- and
that usually leads to criminal acts.

=93Oftentimes a criminal act masks an untreated problem with addiction,=94
said Simmons. =93It is important that we address crime on a much broader
basis than arrest and incarceration.=94

=93Understanding that addiction leads to crime will allow us to better
understand new innovative ways to address this problem and reduce the
growing financial burden of criminal acts on our taxpayers,=94 Simmons
continued. =93Our ultimate goal should be to strive to determine both
social and mental causes that lead to criminal acts.=94

In addition to crime, addiction, whether to alcohol, drugs or other
substances, can often also lead to alienation and anger against that
addicted person -- from friends, family and society as a whole. The
goal of the HBO documentary is to allow the public to see the other
side of addiction, and let them understand that it is a disease that
can be treated.

`=91We need to create an empathy so we don't react with anger and a
stigma to the person who is addicted, which doesn't help anyone -- the
person or society,'=92 Volkow said.

Simmons said that understanding by the general public is vital to
affect change and treat addiction.

=93We encourage viewing the upcoming HBO Documentary Series as a way to
create a new understanding of an age old problem,=94 he said. =93When we
consider an addiction as a brain disease and focus on proven
strategies and treatment methods we can make a significant impact in
the demand side of both legal and illegal substances.=94

Simmons said he is also planning to work to get local libraries to
carry copies of the documentary on their shelves, so that local
residents will be provided another avenue through which they can see
it.

`=91It gives dignity to the addict,'=92 said president of HBO
Documentary
Films Sheila Nevins, whose son struggled with addiction, of the
series. `=91They are responsible for seeking treatment, not responsible
for the disease.'=92

Added Simmons, =93This is an excellent opportunity for us to start a
change in our social mindset as to what addiction is and how we can go
about treating it.=94

For more information on =93Addiction,=94 visit www.hbo.com/addiction.