Joining the Beasleys was Beverly G. Hamilton, director of the South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services (DAODAS), the cabinet agency which developed the new campaign.
"We want to remind those parents who may be throwing up their hands and saying, 'We can't fight anymore. We're not strong enough' that yes, you are strong enough. In fact, you're the strongest, most deeply influential weapon we've got. That's the point of this whole campaign," Governor Beasley said.
The Governor, the First Lady and Mrs. Hamilton today unveiled three television public service messages (two targeting parents and one aimed at young people), as well as a World Wide Web site, a booklet for parents and a poster.
Callers to a new toll-free telephone number (1-888-SC PREVENTS) can get copies of the booklet and poster. Callers can also find out where to go in their communities for prevention and treatment services.
The web site http://www.scprevents.org helps DAODAS launch an on-line information clearinghouse where people can get answers to questions about alcohol and other drug abuse.
During today's 30-minute broadcast, the Beasleys and Hamilton took questions from youth, parents and educators in the studio. Hamilton also urged parents and young people to get involved in local prevention efforts in their schools and communities.
The campaign is designed primarily for families with children ages 10 to 17. It includes messages and other information that will be helpful to people of all ages.
"Surprisingly, one of the most important things we found while preparing for this campaign is that people in South Carolina really don't know where to go for help. We hope SC PREVENTS will let people know where to find the help they need," Hamilton said.
NOTE: The title of the campaign is SC PREVENTS, not SOUTH CAROLINA PREVENTS.
MEDIA COORDINATES FOR BROADCAST
A video news release and public service message will be made available via satellite beginning at 4 p.m. on November 13. The KU band satellite coordinates are Telstar 5/Transponder K12/11936 MHz Horizontal (97 West Longitude).
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