Smack In The Middle

In 2017, the state of Maryland was one of the first six states in the country to declare a state of emergency due to the opioid crisis.  Over the past two years, efforts have been made at the highest level of state government to reduce the number of overdoses, increase treatment facilities and options, and increase a greater amount of oversight to prevent the over prescribing of pain medicines containing an opioid.  Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford has taken the lead in these efforts.  Here he talks candidly about what the state has accomplished and the struggle to make a difference as this epidemic rages on.  

Substance use disorders are no longer limited to the inner city. Thousands of suburban kids that come from traditionally “good homes“ have been a part of this growing and disturbing epidemic. Parents from affluent neighborhoods have been shocked to learn that their honor roll or star athlete child has fallen into the trap of drug addiction.  This is the story of Elizabeth and her two sons.  A family divided by addiction but not conquered.

The worlds of substance use disorder treatment and research regularly work hand in hand to discover best practices, don’t they? The answer surprised me.  Take a listen to two innovative experts explain how the two worlds sometimes, “Dance to a Different Tune.”

Tens of thousands have died from it across the country.  It is now killing more young people than car accidents.  It is an epidemic for which there is no cure.  Overdose.  Here is a stark look at it from the perspective of 3 men who have dealt with its aftermath.  One from the 70's before there was Narcan, one who feels responsible for his cousin's death and one who lost his girlfriend and his brother. 

An inside look at drug dealing 2018.  Long gone are the old Hollywood portrayals of powerful men hiding in the shadows, ruling their territories with just a threat of violence. Now, no rules apply and drugs are sold to anyone without worry about the effects of contents, or the consequences.  Leonard shares his personal story of the grim world where he sold drugs and his struggle to stay clear of it.

The horrible side effects of heroin are now common knowledge.  Pain, HIV infection, loss of family and jobs, withdrawal, the struggle for recovery and the ultimate relapse.  Knowing all this, we wondered what makes someone use this drug at all. There must me a pay off - something that overrides all the risk.  We asked long time addict Gary how heroin made him feel and why he felt it was worth all of this. He had one word: Euphoric.  

Honor. Respect. Rules. Code of conduct. These are not exactly words used to describe a drug dealer, unless it was in the 70's in Baltimore City.  Larry has watched 4 decades of dealing and doping.  He describes in vivid detail what made those times seem almost glamorous compared to the ruthlessness of today's street drug culture.  From why white men were not trusted, why streets had to be clean and the dress code required, Larry tells us the rules of the game.  

The reasons why people begin using drugs vary from one person to another, however, there does seem to be one common denominator  pain.  Whether physical or emotional pain, it needed to be lessened or numbed.  This is especially true of the intense emotional pain caused by sexual abuse.  Melinda, Sharneese and Charles all were victims of incest and sexual abuse, along with neglect and betrayal at very young ages.  They all admit there was a connection between these events and their drug use, even if it took them years to understand it.