New campaign hopes to educate Kentucky about heroin, opioid dangers

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky is launching a new initiative in hopes of educating people about the dangers of opioid and heroin addictions.

The office created four videos that show a variety of perspectives on the opiate issue. Those interviewed include a federal prison inmate, an addict in recovery, parents who have lost a child to an overdose, a nurse-manager of a hospital emergency department, the head of the DEA in Kentucky, and U.S. Attorney Kerry Harvey.

"To win this fight, we must clearly understand what we're up against," said U.S. Attorney Harvey. "We must acknowledge that the opioid epidemic threatens every segment of our community and we must eliminate the false stereotypes and misperceptions that hamper our efforts. These videos provide important insights from those who, in one way or another, have been deeply affected by this epidemic. These videos will compliment what our families from the USA HEAT program are already doing in their presentations to the community."

The U.S. Attorney's Office will send the videos to more than a thousand school and community leaders, including mayors, county judge-executives, and school resource officers, across the 67 counties comprising the eastern half of the state.