Winemillers focus of ThinkTV documentary: How family’s fight against opioid addiction galavanized area

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In 2016, Blanchester area farmer Roger Winemiller lost two of his three children — Barry and Heather — to heroin overdoses. His one surviving child, a 20-year user, is in recovery.

A new 30-minute documentary film from ThinkTV tells the story of Roger and his family as they struggle to overcome the devastation of addiction.

Faced with overwhelmed and underfunded rural support services, Roger and others in his town began reaching out to addicts and their families. Today this patchwork coalition includes a progressive judge, a concerned family physician and faith-based leaders — all working to save their community — one person at a time. But destigmatizing addiction, especially in conservative rural communities, is a rough road to travel.

For many, that journey began with 20 seconds of courage.

“20 Seconds of Courage: Fighting the Opioid Addiction in Rural Ohio” premieres Friday, June 15 at 8:30 p.m. on ThinkTV16 with a repeat presentation at 10:30 p.m.

“When this epidemic subsides we can thank the people who stared it in the face and didn’t back down. The people in this film had a choice. They didn’t internalize their pain. They reached out to others. They’re shining a light in dark places,” noted Richard Wonderling, 20 Seconds of Courage writer/producer.

The film is part of ThinkTV’s The Opioid Epidemic Here at Home project. The multi-platform initiative provides information and resources for those struggling with addiction, their families, friends, employers and anyone looking for information or help.

Additional Information, video pieces, stories of recovery, documentaries and more are available at www.thinktv.org/opioid. Social media users can follow the conversation using the hashtag #OpioidThinkTV.

Stories about Roger Winemiller, his family and their struggle with opioid addiction have appeared in local media including the News Journal as well as in the March 12, 2017 New York Times.

The Opioid Epidemic Here at Home is a public service initiative of ThinkTV. The initiative has been made possible, in part, by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield

Chronicles how local family’s fight against opioid addiction galvanized community

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