West Virginia is dying. We lead the nation in overdose deaths. In fact, this rate is double the national average and is growing exponentially every year. Most of these deaths can be attributed to opioid abuse.
Opioid abuse is a far reaching epidemic. Spiking cases of Hep C and HIV. Increasing crime. And driving up the costs of healthcare and law enforcement. The state can now be considered a victim of a mass trauma. There is no one in the area who lacks stories of loved ones lost or current family struggles due to this epidemic.
The state is facing a crisis. Something needs to be done. Yes, changes need to be made to laws and policy. But these changes won’t solve the problem. They are band-aids on bleeding arteries. We need long-term solutions. And we need them fast.
We can’t arrest our way out of this problem. Law and policy changes are needed. But they aren’t the solution. We need to stop opioid abuse before it starts. That’s where we come in.
The Appalachian Arts Academy is a non-profit that provides arts education and scholarships for children and teens in areas affected by the opioid crisis. We believe dreams are greater than drugs. If we foster a child’s creativity and nurture their artistic dreams, they have a great chance of remaining drug free.
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