Media Outreach

Keep a eye on your small screens – you never know when ADDICT 2 ADDICT, FAMILY 4 FAMILY will pop up!

In an attempt to reach more addicts of opioids and other substances — and their friends and relatives — where they live, Mental Health Peer Connection (MHPC) is beginning a far-ranging media campaign to inform the public about its Addict 2 Addict, Family 2 Family (A2A, F2F) program. This effort differs from other opioid crisis outreaches, in that A2A, F2F has recruited recovering addicts to offer help to still struggling addicts who have decided they want to work towards their own recovery, and also the family members of addicts to counsel their peers on the best ways to support relatives who are in the grip of opioids and other addictive substances.  Who would know their needs better?

MHPC is revealing its multi-pronged endeavor to the press on Wednesday November 8, 2017, at Western New York Independent Living, Inc. in Buffalo's University District.  The Commissioner of the Erie County Department of Mental Health, Michael Ranney, CRC-R, LMHC, has been invited to the campaign kickoff. 

In 2016, MHPC had a small publicity campaign, encouraging addicts to contact the A2A, F2F hotline; starting November 8th, it will be hugely expanded to reach those of different ages.  In addition to paid announcements on television and radio, it will employ more digital avenues such as website display ads, and, for the next twelve months, "search engine marketing" on cable company websites and elsewhere, making our information pop up under the search results for dozens of keywords concerning drugs, drug paraphernalia, addiction, recovery, rehabilitation, and so on. In November and December, tens of thousands of ads will precede streaming movies and TV series on a variety of digital platforms, such as Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Crackle, Xbox One, PlayStation, and Apple TV.

In a more traditional in-person setting, an integral part of this outreach continues to be monthly get-to-know-you “HELLO” (Helping Every Life Live On) Peer Family Support Groups, which are held in North Buffalo, South Buffalo, Cheektowaga, Hamburg, and Akron, to introduce the community to its innovative peer approach,

More information is available by calling Gretchen Vinson at 716-836-0822, extension 135.