"30% of all high school seniors in the U.S. admit to using an illicit drug within the past year. The nonmedical use of prescription drugs is highest among young adults. In 2010, more young adults died from prescription drug overdoses than of any other drug, including heroin and cocaine combined."
- The National Institute on Health, 2012
WASHINGTON, Aug. 1, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Mentor Foundation USA, Comcast and A&E Networks today announced that a special video featuring highlights from National Drug Facts Day, hosted in Washington, D.C. in January, is now available to Comcast Xfinity TV customers in the Washington, D.C. area at no additional cost on Xfinity On Demand.
Mentor Foundation USA partnered with the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and other key partners including Comcast and A&E Networks, to host National Drug Facts Day – an annual event that gives youth a voice to address the threats of drug and substance abuse. One hundred and sixty high school students from Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. met with top U.S. scientists and inspirational guest speakers to "shatter the myths" around drug and substance abuse, and to pledge to stay drug free.
A&E Networks, the creator of the Emmy Award-winning A&E series "Intervention," and Comcast, one of the nation's leading providers of entertainment, information and communications products and services, produced the video as a tool for teenagers, parents, educators and caregivers to open up dialogue within homes and schools, and further address the subject of drug and substance abuse.
"National Drug Facts Day with Mentor Foundation USA has a significant impact on the lives of young people in the Washington, D.C. Metro area," said Libby O'Connell, Ph.D., Senior Vice President of Corporate Outreach for A&E. "We are so pleased to support their work against youth drug abuse and we proudly join Comcast in bringing this information to the public at large."
The video offers information, resources and testimonials designed to empower youth to make healthy decisions. It includes a "Drug IQ Challenge," a "Youth Forum" including discussions from both a scientific and social perspective, heartfelt testimonials from parents who lost their children to drug abuse, and a "Poetry Slam Workshop" where students were given the opportunity to express their thoughts and feelings on drug and substance abuse through their own words.
"Comcast is proud to support initiatives that encourage young people to reach their full potential and serve as role models to their peers," said Donna Rattley Washington, Regional Vice President of Government Affairs for Comcast. "We continuously look for ways to use our technology to deliver pertinent information and continue the momentum around programs that are making a positive impact in our local communities."
Comcast customers can find the video on Xfinity On Demand by selecting "Get Local" from the main menu and choosing "Community Investments" then "Specials," or on Mentor Foundation USA's website: www.mentorfoundationusa.org.
About Mentor Foundation USA
The Mentor Foundation USA mission is to prevent drug abuse and promote health and well-being among children and youth in the United States. Mentor USA offers programs that combine the best of international and US prevention efforts. Mentor USA's approach is to bring the business community together with schools and offer prevention initiatives to youth through different programs. The Mentor Foundation was founded in 1994 by H.M. Queen Silvia of Sweden and the World Health Organization (WHO). Mentor Foundation has chapter organizations in Colombia, Germany, Sweden, Lithuania, UK, USA and a Regional Chapter in Lebanon serving 22 Arab countries. For more information, visit http://www.mentorfoundationusa.org
About Comcast Cable
Comcast Cable is the nation's largest video, high-speed Internet and phone provider to residential customers under the XFINITY brand and also provides these services to businesses. Comcast has invested in technology to build an advanced network that delivers among the fastest broadband speeds, and brings customers personalized video, communications and home management offerings. Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) is a global media and technology company. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information.
Contact: Michaela Pratt: (202) 536-1594
[email protected]
SOURCE Mentor Foundation USA