The 2003 Nancy Dickerson Whitehead Awards for Excellence in Reporting on Drug and Alcohol Problems
2003 Nancy Dickerson Whitehead Awards Presenters and Speakers:
Lesley Stahl, 60 Minutes
William Styron, Author
John Whitehead, Whitehead Foundation
James Burke, Partnership for a Drug Free America
2003 Nancy Dickerson Whitehead Awards Winners:
The Sun (Bremerton, WA) for “The Meth Toll”
A comprehensive series of articles on the impact of methamphetamine addiction on every aspect of the community in Kitsap County, Washington. (June 2002 – January 2003)
Honorable Mention – Nancy McVicar and Fred Schulte, South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, FL) for “Rx for Death”
A series of articles on narcotic prescription drug abuse in south Florida. The series focuses in particular on OxyContin and includes investigations into local doctors who overprescribe and illegally prescribe the drug. (May 12 – 15, 2002)
KNXV-TV, ABC 15 Investigators (Phoenix, AZ) for “Costly High” and “Over the Counter High”
Two news stories on how teenagers use commonplace household products to get high – whipped cream chargers (Whip-Its) and over-the-counter cold medications containing Dextromethorphan – and the devastating impact of this activity. (May 21, 2003 and July 23, 2002)
Special Mention – BET.COM for “Crack: Up in Smoke”
A multi-part series that provides an in-depth look at crack cocaine in the African American community. The series covers the introduction of crack into the African American community, the impact on the criminal justice system and the impact on Black popular culture. (November 25, 2002)