WBGU-TV addiction series features Karen Kasich

Marcus Harrison (center) with Karen Kasich (third from right). WBGU-TV student employees were able to meet and chat with her while taking a tour of the Ohio Governor’s Residence and Heritage Garden. 

As part of the WBGU-TV series “Addiction: Heroin and Pills,” Producer/Director Marcus Harrison sat down with Karen Kasich, wife of Ohio Gov. John Kasich, to talk about education’s role in prevention of prescription drug abuse and its importance in combating the opiate/heroin addiction epidemic in Ohio. 

The governor and Mrs. Kasich have championed the new Start Talking program, a statewide initiative that empowers parents, teachers and students, as well as co-workers and supervisors, to start talking about prescription drug abuse. Ohio is averaging a loss of six lives a day due to prescription drugs and heroin, Harrison noted. 

In the interview, Karen Kasich said, “Research has shown that young people are 50 percent less likely to abuse prescription drugs if someone of authority educates them while they are young. We have to not only start the conversation, but keep the conversation going throughout adolescence, and even educate adults and health care officials on prescription drug abuse. 

“As a parent, I want my children to be educated and know what to do in a situation where someone offers them drugs,” she added. “We cannot be afraid to talk to our kids and let them know what’s going on.” She concluded by saying, “I believe that Ohio’s children are our most precious natural resource. We need to take that to heart and do what we can to make sure those children are raised up in a healthy manner.” 

WBGU-TV student employees were able to meet and chat with Karen Kasich while taking a tour of the Ohio Governor’s Residence and Heritage Garden. 

WBGU-TV is taking the epidemic head on by producing the addiction series, which began in February.

Harrison said, “This epidemic is affecting each and every citizen, and it is something we all have to deal with collectively by taking preventative methods and educating ourselves about the subject.” 

The “Education and Prevention” segment will air at 8 p.m. June 18 on WBGU-TV.