CHICAGO, May 29 /PRNewswire/ In an unprecedented partnership to raise
awareness about the epidemic of substance abuse in America, Home Box Office
and The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation have joined together to produce three
onehour programs titled, FACES OF ADDICTION. A 35minute compilation of the
three films will premier in Chicago on Friday, May 30, in the First Chicago
Center. The invitationonly event will begin with a 5 p.m. VIP reception,
followed by the premier screening at 7 p.m. Susan Weed, director, Mayor's
Office of Substance Abuse Policy will lead a 30minute discussion following
the screening.

The goal of this series is to encourage meaningful dialogue among families on
the impact of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drug use; to offer resistance
skills for youth when dealing with peer pressure; and to empower communities
to reduce the tolerance for substance abuse in their neighborhoods.

"The City of Chicago is committed to halting the devastating impact substance
abuse has on the foundation of our families and communities," said Mayor
Richard J. Daley. "We are proud to join with HBO and the Robert Wood Johnson
Foundation to increase awareness and support their outreach efforts through
local town meetings and giving community groups greater access to city
resources."

The premier is being hosted by Prime Cable of Chicago; the Mayor's Office of
Substance Abuse Policy, City of Chicago; U.S. Postal Service; Chicago Park
District; Forest Health Systems; Gateway Foundation; Illinois Department of
Alcoholism and Substance Abuse; Join Together; "Just Say No" International;
and Ravenswood Substance Abuse Task Force.

The series, two documentaries and one docudrama, was produced with a $3.2
million grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the nation's largest
philanthropic organization dedicated to U.S. health care. The three programs
will be complemented by an extensive $1 million community outreach effort
targeted to reach thousands of America's communities and schools. All three
programs in the FACES OF ADDICTION series were executive produced by Shelia
Nevins, HBO's awardwinning senior vice president for documentary and family
programming.

ADDICTED, the first program in the series, will premier on HBO on Thursday,
June 5, 7 p.m. CST. HBO has authorized cable and satellite affiliates to
make the programs available to their basic subscribers.