The Dr. Oz Show Explores America's Heroin Epidemic With White House Director Of National Drug Control Policy Michael Botticelli

NEW YORK, Sept. 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- In a very moving and emotional show, the three-time Emmy® award-winning, The Dr. Oz Show will explore in depth America's heroin epidemic, which killed nearly 50,000 people last year alone.  Director of White House Drug Control Policy, Michael Botticelli, will appear to discuss the country's response to the heroin crisis as well as his own addiction to drugs and his recovery.  Dr. Oz also welcomes recently widowed mother Eva Holland, who sparked a media frenzy when after losing her husband to a heroin overdose four weeks ago, she posted a picture with her children beside her husband's open casket at the wake. Holland appears in the show to further express her intention in posting the picture, to eliminate the shame and stigma that surrounds addiction and to send the message that her husband was someone who struggled with a fatal disease rather than a bad person.

"We need to change the way we talk about addiction in this country," said Mehmet Oz, M.D. host. "This is an exploding public health crisis and people who are struggling need help and compassion and those who have successfully reached recovery should be celebrated as examples of effective treatment. Now is the time for our country's renaissance in how we understand, treat and describe the disease of addiction."

Drug overdose was the leading cause of injury death in 2013, greater than car accidents and homicide and 24.6 million people 12 or older (9.4% of the population) live with substance dependence or abuse.

Director Botticelli, in an insightful interview, described how language is important and our national mindset must change from a "War on Drugs" to a "War for Recovery".  The reasons, he outlines are that heroin use has skyrocketed and heroin related deaths have quadrupled. Shame and social stigma still surround substance use disorders keeping users from seeking treatment.

Statistically, 1 in 3 families are affected by addiction, but 90% of those who need treatment don't receive it. Despite the enormous number of those needing services, today, over 20 million Americans have been successfully treated and are in recovery. Unlike other major health awareness efforts such as breast cancer or heart disease, there has been no unified approach to treating addiction or celebrating those who successfully achieve recovery.

Also appearing in the episode is filmmaker and advocate Greg Williams whose documentary "The Anonymous People," about the 23 million people in the US living in long-term recovery from drug and alcohol addiction was wildly popular on Netflix.  Williams, who has been in recovery for 14 years appears with Jim Hood who lost his 21 year old son to a heroin overdose.  They are now the co-founders of the new national organization, Facing Addiction, which serves as a voice for the over 85 million Americans impacted by addiction. "Unite to Face Addiction Rally" will take place on Sunday, October 4^th in Washington DC with Dr. Oz as one of the speakers.

 About The Dr. Oz Show

Currently in its seventh season, the three-time Daytime Emmy Award-winning syndicated daily series "The Dr. Oz Show" is hosted by the three-time Emmy Award-winning Dr. Mehmet Oz, accredited health expert, best-selling author, and world-renowned cardiac surgeon. "The Dr. Oz Show" is an informative hour that offers audiences the opportunity to learn about a wide range of health and wellness topics. Tackling the balance of mind, body, and spirit, Dr. Oz calls on specialists from a variety of disciplines for expert advice on how viewers can be their best selves.

Dr. Oz, the world-renowned cardiothoracic surgeon, served as health expert on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" since 2004, sharing advice with viewers to help them live their best life from the inside out. Dr. Oz has co-authored six New York Times Best Sellers including "YOU: The Owner's Manual", "YOU: The Smart Patient", "YOU: On a Diet", "YOU: Staying Young", "YOU: Being Beautiful" and "YOU: Having a Baby" as well as the award-winning "Healing from the Heart".  Dr. Oz launched his magazine The Good Life with Hearst Corporation in spring 2014.  He has a regular column in O The Oprah Magazine.  

Dr. Oz is a professor of Surgery at Columbia University.  He directs the Cardiovascular Institute and Complementary Medicine Program at New York Presbyterian Hospital and performs 100 heart operations annually. His research interests include heart replacement surgery, minimally invasive cardiac surgery, complementary medicine and health care policy. He has authored over 400 original publications, book chapters, and medical books and has received several patents. 

Cleared in over 99% of the country, "The Dr. Oz Show" is produced by Harpo Productions and distributed by SPT.  "The Dr. Oz Show" is executive produced by Amy Chiaro and co-executive produced by Stacy Rader.  

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