The Jed Foundation, mtvU, And Macklemore Partner On Prescription Drug Abuse Campaign

NEW YORK, Jan. 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Jed Foundation and mtvU, with strategic support from the Clinton Health Matters Initiative, today debuted the next phase of "The Other Side," a 12-spot video campaign featuring Grammy-winning artist Macklemore to help college students navigate the issue of prescription drug abuse on college campuses. In the series, which is part of The Jed Foundation and mtvU's "Half of Us" initiative, Macklemore reveals intimate details of his struggles with substance abuse and how he overcame it. The interview with Macklemore will premiere on HalfOfUs.com today at 3:00 p.m. ET/noon PT and debut on-air on mtvU tonight at 5:00 p.m. ET/PT.

"The Jed Foundation is proud to be working with Macklemore to help further the dialogue around this important topic. Programs like our Half of Us initiative with mtvU help support and educate students surrounding the realities of prescription drug abuse," said John MacPhee, Executive Director of The Jed Foundation. 

In an exclusive mtvU interview, Macklemore states, "I knew that my highest potential was when I was sober. It was other things that were pulling me down."

"The Other Side" video series also features students nationwide candidly discussing their experiences with prescription drug misuse and abuse. The effort leverages the power of real stories to illuminate the unintended consequences of prescription drug abuse and help college students who are overwhelmed and stressed realize there are better ways to deal with the pressure. 

The Jed Foundation and the Clinton Foundation's Clinton Health Matters Initiative (CHMI), provided support and direction in the development of the video series. In addition to the videos, "Half of Us" features a comprehensive, custom resource center offering students additional information on prescription drug abuse, helpful tips, and positive ways to cope with the academic and emotional pressures of college life. MTV is also spreading the message via its social media platforms, using a series of flat images and GIFs that shed light on the realities of prescription drugs, while providing positive alternatives and a connection to resources. All of the visual content will originate on the "Half of Us" tumblr page. 

Get involved by sharing your message using the hashtag #TheOtherSide. For more information, visit www.mtvU.com or www.halfofus.com. 

About The Jed Foundation  
The Jed Foundation (www.jedfoundation.org) is a leading nonprofit working to protect the emotional health of teenagers and colleges students. Our programs are inspiring a new national dialogue on mental health, encouraging millions of young people to speak up and take action, and changing the way academic institutions create healthier campus communities and prevent substance abuse and self-harm.  These programs include: The Jed and Clinton Health Matters Campus Program, a groundbreaking self-assessment and feedback program that helps colleges create more comprehensive solutions to support their students; ULifeline, an online resource that helps students understand and address mental health conditions like depression and anxiety disorders; the Half of Us campaign, with MTV, which uses online and on-air programming to share stories and encourage help-seeking; the Love is Louder movement that helps individuals, communities and schools build resiliency, create connectedness and promote acceptance; Transition Year, an online resource for parents aimed at helping to ensure a smooth, healthy transition into college life; and a portfolio of resources that helps campuses promote emotional health and protect at-risk students. Learn more at www.jedfoundation.org.  

About MTV
MTV is the world's premier youth entertainment brand. With a global reach of more than a half-billion households, MTV is the cultural home of the millennial generation, music fans and artists, and a pioneer in creating innovative programming for young people. MTV reflects and creates pop culture with its Emmy®, Grammy® and Peabody® award-winning content built around compelling storytelling, music discovery and activism across TV, online and mobile. MTV's sibling networks MTV2 and mtvU each deliver unparalleled customized content for young males, music fans and college students, and its online HUBMTV.com is a leading destination for music, news and pop culture. MTV is a unit of Viacom Inc., one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. 

About mtvU
Broadcast to more than 750 college campuses, mtvU reaches upwards of 9 million U.S. college students - making it the largest, most comprehensive television network just for college students. mtvU is dedicated to every aspect of college life, reaching students everywhere they are: on-air, online and on campus. mtvU programs music videos from emerging artists that can't be seen anywhere else, news, student life features and initiatives that give college students the tools to advance positive social change. mtvU is always on campus, with more than 250 events per year, including exclusive concerts, giveaways, shooting mtvU series and more. For more information about mtvU, and a complete programming schedule, visit www.mtvU.com.

About the Clinton Foundation
The Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation convenes businesses, governments, NGOs, and individuals to improve global health and wellness, increase opportunity for women and girls, reduce childhood obesity, create economic opportunity and growth, and help communities address the effects of climate change.  Because of our work, 20,000 American schools are providing kids with healthy food choices in an effort to eradicate childhood obesity; 21,000 African farmers have improved their crops to feed 30,000 people; 248 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions are being reduced in cities worldwide; more than 5,000 people have been trained in marketable job skills in Colombia; more than 6.8 million people have benefited from lifesaving HIV/AIDS medications; $100 million in strategic investments have been made, impacting the health of 25 million people in the U.S.; and members of the Clinton Global Initiative have made nearly 2,500 Commitments to Action to improve more than 430 million lives around the world.

Media Contact:
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SOURCE The Jed Foundation