I wouldn't say educate people about the badness of debt. Instead, we should teach that debt is a tool that should be respected.

Debt can be a good thing if used in the right manner (borrowing to buy a home you plan to live in the long term is a prime example).

Financing has its place and its role. What's lacking (on top of general financial education) in society is proper decision-making skills.

Fix that, and these sorts of stories will happen less and less. However, getting there is a whole other can of worms...