Across the nation, communities are suffering from rampant opioid misuse and overdose rates, and the 420 counties in the Appalachian region of the eastern U.S. have been disproportionately impacted by this epidemic of addiction. At the turn of the millennium, the opioid overdose death rate for Appalachian counties was roughly equal to that of the rest of the country. By 2017, however, the death rate for opioid overdoses in Appalachian counties was 72 percent higher than that of non-Appalachian...| National Association of Counties
ARC formed the Substance Use Disorder Advisory Council in May 2019 to offer recommendations for the Commission to consider as part of a strategic plan to build and strengthen recovery ecosystems throughout the Appalachian region. The Council is a volunteer advisory group made up of 23 leaders from law enforcement, recovery services, health, economic development, […]| Appalachian Regional Commission
This study analyzes the impact of diseases of despair on mortality within the Appalachian Region, focusing on mortality from three main causes: alcohol, prescription drug, and illegal drug overdose; suicide; and alcoholic liver disease/cirrhosis of the liver. It includes data through 2022 and serves as an update to previous ARC reports exploring the same issues.| Appalachian Regional Commission
For Philip Cooper, helping his community recover from substance use disorder is a personal, lifelong commitment.| Appalachian Regional Commission