Obama visits West Virginia to address heroin use, residents plead: ‘Mr. President, we want you to know’

West Virginia is ground zero for a prescription drug abuse epidemic affecting millions of Americans. Over the past five years, nearly 2,900 West Virginians died of overdoses on prescription drugs or heroin, the highest rate in the country.

To humanize this national issue, youth reporters from Richwood High School Kendra Amick, Haley Brown and Jayde Robinson produced a video that highlights the devastating effects of substance abuse on their community. The White House has shared their poignant video both on Facebook and Twitter, and their video aired on PBS NewsHour, found below.

The White House has also invited these students along with Richwood High School graduate and PBS mentor Tarrin Neel to attend the discussion. Students Griffin Dotson and Shelden Morris will cover the event on the ground.

The students will be accompanied by their teacher Susan Johnson and professional mentor Chuck Frostick from West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

 

NewsHour Extra Lessons:

White House highlights West Virginia SRL report on drug abuse