Treatment Providers Discuss Appalachia's Unique Issues April 4, 2003
Communities in Action Treatment providers in Appalachian Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee and North Carolina met recently to discuss the unique treatment needs of the region, the Lexington Herald- Leader reported on March 28.
Appalachia is home to some of the nation's worst prescription drug abuse. In parts of Eastern Kentucky, drug stores, hospitals and other dispensaries received more narcotics per person than anywhere else in the nation.
Treatment centers have lengthy waiting lists, but providers face deeper challenges than the number of beds. According to Al Greene, professor emeritus at Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C., the history and development of the region created cultural factors that influence treatment patterns. People rely on self and family first, and exhaust family resources before seeking help.A number of other factors play a role in the drug abuse in the region, including economic problems and a history of outside exploitation, contributing to a feeling of powerlessness, explained Greene. Additionally, physically demanding industries, such as logging and mining, led to an acceptance of prescription drug use. "You're not a dope fiend. You're taking medicine," Greene said.
Conference organizer Mac Bell, with the Kentucky Division of Substance Abuse, said treatment literature doesn't address the unique role of Appalachia culture, so the group came together to discuss how to reach people and meet their needs. For instance, according to Bell, many people who sell drugs in the region are doing it to feed their families. "This is a different kind of drug culture," he said.
