On this West Virginia Morning, we hear from an author who wants to see some systemic change in how we talk about and work with people struggling with substance use disorder. Also, in this show, we hear a story about plastic bags versus reusable bags during the pandemic.
In the run-up to the 2016 election, Jack Shuler was reporting on poverty in his home state of Ohio and says he was disappointed that neither presidential candidate at the time had much to say about the generational poverty and homelessness being experienced by millions in the U.S. His reporting made him increasingly aware of the relationship between the economic crisis that so many people in the Rust Belt and Appalachia have been experiencing for decades, coupled with a surge in drug use. He decided reporting stories from his home in Licking County wasn’t enough.
In “This Is Ohio,” Shuler’s book released this month, he explores our nation’s overdose crisis as a human-rights issue, a crisis in which “every overdose is a policy failure.” He takes us out into his community and beyond to witness the devastation of the overdose epidemic and, most importantly, the efforts to overcome it. He spoke with 100 Day’s in Appalachia’s Taylor Sisk.
The year 2020 looked to be a turning point for getting rid of single-use plastics. Eight states and hundreds of local governments had approved bans. But, when the pandemic hit, many places went back to disposable plastics, like grocery store bags. The Allegheny Front’s Julie Grant looks at the scientific debate to find out whether it's safe to return to reusables.
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