National Geographic Channel Series Drugs, Inc. Teams Up With Partnership For Drug-Free Kids For Third Consecutive Year

WASHINGTON, July 8, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- From rural towns tormented by addiction to headline-grabbing overdoses, illegal narcotics continue to plague our nation. The $350 billion-a-year industry knows no boundaries and leaves devastation in its wake. For the third consecutive year, National Geographic Channel's (NGC's) acclaimed series Drugs, Inc. and the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids are again joining forces to raise awareness about the nation's current drug landscape and educate Americans on what is happening in their neighborhoods and communities.

As part of their collaboration, NGC will air the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids PSAs throughout the season, including the latest Medicine Abuse Project PSAs (coming in August). NGC will also run billboards and lower thirds driving to drugfree.org, and digital banner ads on natgeotv.com. Additional efforts include blog posts on natgeotv.com, highlights in both NGC and the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids' e-newsletters, and tune-in posts on Facebook and Twitter.

"Drugs, Inc. is a raw and honest look at America's drug epidemic, told from a 360-degree perspective," said Heather Moran, executive vice president of programming, National Geographic Channel. "Our collaboration with the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids is an opportunity to go beyond the narrative to not only raise awareness for this important issue, but provide viewers with resources and an outlet for discussion."

"The support of National Geographic Channel helps us to reach more families who want information and support in addressing teen substance abuse and, particularly, the abuse of prescription drugs," said Marcia Lee Taylor, SVP, government affairs for the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids and program head of the organization's Medicine Abuse Project. "We are thrilled to continue our relationship and recognize National Geographic as a Bronze Sponsor of our Medicine Abuse Project."

The Medicine Abuse Project is the Partnership's unifying campaign that brings together families, communities, industry, health care professionals, educators, law enforcement and government officials to curb teen medicine abuse and save lives. The Medicine Abuse Project aims to prevent half a million teens from abusing medicine within five years.

About Drugs, Inc.
Drugs, Inc. opens viewers' eyes with a 360-degree approach to the drug trade. With intimate firsthand, street-level testimonies from those at the front lines and back alleys of the drug trade — traffickers, dealers, users, federal agents and cops — this investigative series examines the $350 billion-a-year industry from all angles. Startling firsthand interviews with users and dealers play out alongside incredible access to law enforcement officials. Stand on the front lines with the local and federal agencies trying tirelessly to curb their city's addiction, meet the drug mules trying to score a payday, and go inside the dangerous drug dens where dealers cook their product. Each episode focuses on a different state, city or province and its most problematic drug(s). This season, visit Salt Lake City, Utah, where Mexico's cartels are flooding the streets with narcotics and tarnishing the city's idyllic veneer. And in Washington, D.C., join a DEA tactical unit as it prepares to take down PCP kitchens that are toxic, explosive and ruthlessly defended. In Portland, Ore., meet the heroin-addicted homeless youth who have succumbed to the allure of a cheap high and the police who are fighting to break up the local distribution networks. Additional cities this season include Oakland, Calif.; Baltimore, Md.; Atlanta, Ga.; Dallas, Texas; Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.; and Boston, Mass.

For more information on Drugs, Inc., please visit www.natgeotv.com/drugs.   

For more information on the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids' Medicine Abuse Project, please visit http://medicineabuseproject.org

National Geographic Channel
Based at the National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington, D.C., the National Geographic Channels US are a joint venture between National Geographic and Fox Networks. The Channels contribute to the National Geographic Society's commitment to exploration, conservation and education with smart, innovative programming and profits that directly support its mission. Launched in January 2001, National Geographic Channel (NGC) celebrated its fifth anniversary with the debut of NGC HD. In 2010, the wildlife and natural history cable channel Nat Geo WILD was launched, and in 2011, the Spanish-language network Nat Geo Mundo was unveiled. The Channels have carriage with all of the nation's major cable, telco and satellite television providers, with NGC currently available in over 85 million U.S. homes. Globally, National Geographic Channel is available in more than 440 million homes in 171 countries and 45 languages. For more information, visit www.natgeotv.com.

The Partnership for Drug-Free Kids
The Partnership for Drug-Free Kids is dedicated to reducing teen substance abuse and supporting families impacted by addiction. We develop public education campaigns that drive awareness of teen substance abuse, and lead teen-targeted efforts that inspire young people to make positive decisions to stay healthy and avoid drugs and alcohol. On our website, drugfree.org, and through our toll-free helpline (1-855-DRUGFREE), we provide families with direct support and guidance to help them address teen substance abuse. Finally, we build healthy communities, advocating for great access to adolescent treatment and funding for youth prevention programs. As a national nonprofit, we depend on donations from individuals, corporations, foundations and the public sector and are thankful to SAG-AFTRA and the advertising and media industries for their ongoing generosity.

SOURCE National Geographic Channel