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For more than 30 years, John Kiesewetter has been the source for information about all things in local media — comings and goings, local people appearing on the big or small screen, special programs, and much more. Contact John at johnkiese@yahoo.com.

WCPO-TV Airs Heroin Special 7 p.m. Thursday

WCPO-TV

WCPO-TV devotes an hour  to a "9 On Your Side I-Team Special Report" called “Heroin: Fixing a Broken System” (7 p.m., Channel 9, Thursday Dec. 15), about problems in the treatment of heroin addicts. 

Here's the program description from Channel 9:

"With an uncontrollable number of overdoses, a system overwhelmed and a city in crisis, the I-Team examines hopeful solutions and life after heroin.

"Nearly a year ago, WCPO started a Heroin Advisory Board. This is a group of medical experts, treatment specialists, social workers, law enforcement officers and parents who have lost children to heroin. The group advises WCPO’s Editorial Board on the challenges our community faces when it comes to heroin.

"As part of these meetings, the I-Team began investigating the broken heroin treatment system. This multi-platform investigation looked at the major challenges heroin addicts faced, with a six-part series on WCPO.com and broadcast stories every night this week.

" 'Heroin addiction is a massive problem plaguing our community. Our hope is that our reporting can lead to meaningful change in how we as a community fight addiction,' said WCPO.com Editor in Chief Mike Canan.

"During this special, the 9 On Your Side I-team examines a broken treatment system as seen through the eyes of doctors, parents, former addicts and addicts.

" 'We're proud of the journalism that goes into the special, but it's not our first nor our last reporting on this topic. This scourge of heroin hasn't abated, and neither will our efforts to give light to our community's biggest challenge,' said WCPO 9 On Your Side News Director Chip Mahaney."

The special airs in place of Channel 9's 7 p.m. newscast and "The List."

John Kiesewetter, who has covered television and media for more than 35 years, has been working for Cincinnati Public Radio and WVXU-FM since 2015.