Feb. 17, 1998
							 Contact:
Conni Lombardo, WHTJ-TV41
						             (804)
295-7671



FREE PROGRAMS WILL PROVIDE INFORMATION TO COMBAT 
DRUG, ALCOHOL ADDICTION IN SCHOOLS, FAMILIES, WORK

	Area educators, community leaders and citizens concerned about
drug and alcohol addiction -- called America's number-one public
health problem -- are invited to attend two free videoconferences in
February at the University of Virginia.
	The videoconferences will be held in connection with "Moyers
on Addiction: Close to Home," a five-part series about the science,
treatment, prevention and politics of addiction, that will air in
March on Central Virginia's Public TV.  	
	A videoconference for educators, "Focus on Schools," will be
held Tuesday, Feb. 24, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at U.Va.'s Zehmer Hall at
104 Midmont Lane.  The live, interactive videoconference, hosted by
National Public Radio correspondent Claudio Sanchez, will describe
successful drug prevention programs and resources available to school
teachers and administrators. The session will also describe the
variety of materials, including educational and family guides,
available to individuals, school representatives and community
leaders.
	The second videoconference, designed as a town meeting, will
be held Thursday, Feb. 26, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at Zehmer Hall.  During
the call-in program participants can interact with national experts on
addiction. They include Dr. Alan I. Leshner, director of the National
Institute on Drug Abuse, which supports research on drug abuse and
addiction; Mathea Falco, president of Drug Strategies, a nonprofit
organization that promotes effective approaches for battling drug
problems; and Jeffrey Emil Diaz, head of the New York-based Employee
Development Center, which helps workers in corporate, nonprofit and
medical settings.  Robert Krulwich, an award winning correspondent for
ABC News World News, will be moderator during the session.
	Immediately following the videoconference, a panel of local
leaders will describe community programs that help individuals and
families facing drug and alcohol abuse.  Panelists will include
Charlottesville Deputy Commonwealth Attorney Rick Moore; Susan Cabell,
vice president for human resources, Martha Jefferson Hospital; James
Peterson, executive director, Region X Community Services Board; Malik
Shabazz, Charlottesville Drug Court case manager; and R. J.
Canterbury, M.D., director of U.Va.Ős Institute for Substance Abuse
Studies.

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	The two videoconferences are sponsored by U.Va.'s Division of
Continuing Education and Central Virginia Public TV, WHTJ-TV41.  The
programs are funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
	"We are proud to be a partner with Central Virginia's Public
TV in offering these important programs providing the latest
information on successful drug prevention programs, strategies and
resources," said Sondra F. Stallard, dean, U.Va.'s Continuing
Education division.
	People who would like to attend either or both
videoconferences are encouraged to RSVP to WHTJ-TV by phone
(804-295-7671), fax (804-295-2813) or email
(conni_lombardo@wcve.pbs.org).

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