I believe that this epedemy is a weapon used against your country in a war. Your enemies willingly (and knowingly) supply the really cheap chemicals used, to the dealers.
Nice timing - I just read Barbara Kingsolver's Demon Copperhead, a jaw-dropping, gorgeously written fictionalized account of a childhood torn apart by the opioid epidemic in Appalachia. So moving, can't recommend it enough. The book's ending and this story provide a much needed sliver of hope. Thank you.
As a fellow CHS graduate whose father also taught at the Colleges, I urge Sam to revisit Portland, Oregon where fentanyl’s grip keeps getting worse and with virtual drug legalization fatal overdoses are up over 1000%
The response is a rearranging of the deck chairs on the TITANIC by the legislature that wants to hobble any law enforcement response to the fentanyl crisis.
What an inspiring story! I loved it. I too come from small town America, an Indiana rural town. The local hangouts for teens, families, the restaurants that catered to men and women who had lost spouses and offered community tables for recent widows and widowers were life saving for all of us. Thank you for publishing this loving reminder of America.
"....they are no longer waiting for outsiders or the government or big-box stores to save them". It's in The Book. "Physician, heal thyself." It is a choice. We can either be a victim, or masters of our lives.
Where do the locals get the money to buy the books and the clothes? In one of the earlier comments, the contributor said grants are available for seed money. But once the business is open and doing business, where do the customers get their cash? It was stated that drug treatment facilities are plentiful, so some government money paying for those services must trickle into the community, but there must be other sources of cash. So where do people get their money?
America is about its people, and seeing people like these take ownership of their communities gives me hope and fills me with pride. God bless the people of Hazard and all the towns like it.
Wow, it's so refreshing to hear good news and happy stories! I love small town America, and I congratulate every ex-addict! Keep the heartwarming stories coming TFP!
I have to admit that reading this story got me a little choked up, the way stories about good people doing good things, overcoming challenges, and those little acts of human heroism, sometimes do.
I'd also like to point out that people started leaving the cities for small towns during Covid because of freedom. Even in states run by the statist, wannabe authoritarian party that so relished the opportunity to shut things down and assert as much control as possible over people's lives (Democrats, in case your wondering), small towns were often oases of freedom. Lockdown orders and mask mandates were worked around and often just flat out ignored. Freedom will always have a powerful attraction.
However, on a negative note personally, I have noticed the trend of housing prices increasing in remote small towns and places like Hazard. I've been planning my escape from the heat, humidity and crowding of Tampa, FL, for many years, making a hobby out of searching for the perfect retirement cabin on a mountain creek or a lake in the woods at least a couple hours from any large city. After Covid hit, formerly quite reasonable prices skyrocketed as people fled to freedom. Fortunately, the entire state of Florida was also a good place to escape Covid insanity, so my current house also increased in value quite a bit.
This is wonderfully wholesome story. Yeah, there's the drug problems, but it shows how resilient people are to keep trying and pushing through. It brought tears to my eyes.
Legit question: given that fentanyl both increases demand but then KILLS the demanders, how is this a good business model for dealers or the cartels?
I believe that this epedemy is a weapon used against your country in a war. Your enemies willingly (and knowingly) supply the really cheap chemicals used, to the dealers.
Nice timing - I just read Barbara Kingsolver's Demon Copperhead, a jaw-dropping, gorgeously written fictionalized account of a childhood torn apart by the opioid epidemic in Appalachia. So moving, can't recommend it enough. The book's ending and this story provide a much needed sliver of hope. Thank you.
Good for them.
As a fellow CHS graduate whose father also taught at the Colleges, I urge Sam to revisit Portland, Oregon where fentanyl’s grip keeps getting worse and with virtual drug legalization fatal overdoses are up over 1000%
The response is a rearranging of the deck chairs on the TITANIC by the legislature that wants to hobble any law enforcement response to the fentanyl crisis.
"The idea that we live in a time of risk-free, recreational drug use is now over"
Funny, I've always known that recreational drugs were bad. Guess that's how I've managed to avoid fentanyl poisoning all these years.
What an inspiring story! I loved it. I too come from small town America, an Indiana rural town. The local hangouts for teens, families, the restaurants that catered to men and women who had lost spouses and offered community tables for recent widows and widowers were life saving for all of us. Thank you for publishing this loving reminder of America.
Isle of Palms
Wonderful to read about people-powered small town revival instead of the more common "hollowed out and left behind" story.
This is wonderful. Thank you for reporting on it.
God Bless America!
"....they are no longer waiting for outsiders or the government or big-box stores to save them". It's in The Book. "Physician, heal thyself." It is a choice. We can either be a victim, or masters of our lives.
Just what I needed to hear. I’m not far from these towns. Time for a road trip.
Where do the locals get the money to buy the books and the clothes? In one of the earlier comments, the contributor said grants are available for seed money. But once the business is open and doing business, where do the customers get their cash? It was stated that drug treatment facilities are plentiful, so some government money paying for those services must trickle into the community, but there must be other sources of cash. So where do people get their money?
America is about its people, and seeing people like these take ownership of their communities gives me hope and fills me with pride. God bless the people of Hazard and all the towns like it.
Wow, it's so refreshing to hear good news and happy stories! I love small town America, and I congratulate every ex-addict! Keep the heartwarming stories coming TFP!
I absolutely love the hope in this story!
I have to admit that reading this story got me a little choked up, the way stories about good people doing good things, overcoming challenges, and those little acts of human heroism, sometimes do.
I'd also like to point out that people started leaving the cities for small towns during Covid because of freedom. Even in states run by the statist, wannabe authoritarian party that so relished the opportunity to shut things down and assert as much control as possible over people's lives (Democrats, in case your wondering), small towns were often oases of freedom. Lockdown orders and mask mandates were worked around and often just flat out ignored. Freedom will always have a powerful attraction.
However, on a negative note personally, I have noticed the trend of housing prices increasing in remote small towns and places like Hazard. I've been planning my escape from the heat, humidity and crowding of Tampa, FL, for many years, making a hobby out of searching for the perfect retirement cabin on a mountain creek or a lake in the woods at least a couple hours from any large city. After Covid hit, formerly quite reasonable prices skyrocketed as people fled to freedom. Fortunately, the entire state of Florida was also a good place to escape Covid insanity, so my current house also increased in value quite a bit.
This is wonderfully wholesome story. Yeah, there's the drug problems, but it shows how resilient people are to keep trying and pushing through. It brought tears to my eyes.