Fighting for survival l Hidden America: Children of the Mountains PART 3/6
Summary
TLDRIn 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson declared war on poverty in Inez, Kentucky, and four years later, Bobby Kennedy traveled the Appalachian region to understand the struggles of its people. Despite efforts and some improvements, Central Appalachia still faces economic challenges, with low income levels and a lack of opportunities. The region also battles a prescription drug epidemic, impacting families and communities, as seen through the story of Erica Floyd, a young girl trying to help her mother overcome addiction. The narrative highlights the resilience of the people and the ongoing fight against poverty and substance abuse.
Takeaways
- 🏭 Joblessness in the Inés area is primarily due to a lack of industrialization and the decline of the coal mining industry.
- 🎤 Lyndon B. Johnson declared war on poverty in Inez, Kentucky in 1964, and Bobby Kennedy visited to inspire Appalachian pride in 1968.
- 🏫 Investments in new schools and highways have helped some communities flourish, but not all areas have seen the same level of improvement.
- 🏞 Despite some progress, many people in the Appalachian region remain poor, with lower educational attainment and health issues.
- 💰 Coal companies have profited immensely from the region, but the local population has not seen corresponding benefits.
- 💊 Prescription drug abuse is a significant issue in Appalachia, with pharmaceutical companies being criticized for their role.
- 💸 In 2007, Purdue Pharma was fined $635 million for misleading the public about the addictiveness of OxyContin.
- 👮♀️ Law enforcement struggles with the drug trade, where prescription drugs like OxyContin have a high street value.
- 👨👧 The impact of drug addiction reaches children, with stories of families affected by parental substance abuse.
- 🏠 The collapse of the coal industry has led to abandoned towns and a sense of defeatism among some residents.
- 👧 The story of Erica Floyd illustrates the resilience of children in the face of addiction and the challenges of growing up in such environments.
Q & A
What was the primary cause of joblessness in the Inez area in 1964?
-The primary cause of joblessness in the Inez area in 1964 was a general lack of industrialization and losses in the coal mining industry.
Which U.S. President declared war on poverty in Inez, Kentucky?
-Lyndon Baines Johnson declared war on poverty in Inez, Kentucky.
How did Bobby Kennedy's visit impact the region according to Bill Gorman?
-According to Bill Gorman, Bobby Kennedy's visit led to an influx of money for new schools and highways, which helped many communities flourish.
What is the current economic situation in the depressed counties of Central Appalachia?
-Families in the depressed counties of Central Appalachia have an average annual income less than the cost of a new car, which is the second lowest in the nation.
What is the impact of coal companies on the mountains in Central Appalachia?
-Coal companies have taken billions in profit out of the mountains, leaving the local population poor, with less educational attainment and often poorer health.
Why has prescription drug abuse become a thriving industry in Appalachia?
-Prescription drug abuse has become a thriving industry in Appalachia due to the easy availability of drugs like oxycontin, lortab, and xanax, and the lack of strict regulation or enforcement.
What was the fine imposed on Purdue Pharma in 2007, and for what reason?
-Purdue Pharma was fined $635 million in 2007 for deliberately misleading people about the addictiveness of the drug oxycontin.
What is the street value of a pill of oxycontin in Harlan County?
-The street value of a pill of oxycontin in Harlan County is such that dealers can make more money in one weekend there than they can in an entire month on the streets of major cities like Chicago, Detroit, or New York.
Who is Erica Floyd and what is her story?
-Erica Floyd is a young girl from Harlan County whose mother is battling addiction. Despite her mother's struggles, Erica remains hopeful and tries to help her mother, even walking her home from the streets at night.
What does Erica's story say about the impact of drug addiction on families in Appalachia?
-Erica's story illustrates the devastating impact of drug addiction on families in Appalachia, where children are often left to care for addicted parents and struggle with the emotional and physical consequences of addiction.
What is the role of Operation Unite in addressing drug issues in the region?
-Operation Unite is a law enforcement and education initiative aimed at addressing drug issues in the region, with Karen Engle as its executive director, focusing on education and enforcement to combat the drug trade.
Outlines
🏭 Economic Struggles and the Impact of Poverty
The script begins with a historical account of joblessness in Inez, Kentucky, due to a lack of industrialization and the decline of the coal mining industry. It highlights Lyndon B. Johnson's declaration of war on poverty in 1964 and Bobby Kennedy's visit in 1968 to uplift the Appalachian community. The narrative then transitions to the present, where Bill Gorman, once a TV reporter, is now the mayor of Hazzard, reflecting on the changes since Kennedy's visit. Despite improvements in infrastructure and education, the region still faces significant challenges, with depressed counties in Central Appalachia having an average annual income lower than the cost of a new car. The script also discusses the exploitation by coal companies and the subsequent health and educational disparities. It touches on the thriving drug trade, particularly in prescription drugs like oxycontin, which has led to widespread addiction and social decay. The story of Erica Floyd is introduced, a young girl whose mother is in jail for a DUI, and her struggle with the hope of her mother's return and the harsh reality of addiction.
🏠 The Resilience of a Child Amidst Addiction and Poverty
This paragraph continues the story of Erica Floyd, who is now eleven years old and still grappling with her mother's addiction to prescription drugs. Despite the challenges, Erica maintains a strong bond with her mother and tries to keep hope alive. The script describes the community's struggle with drug addiction, where even public figures are not immune. It also portrays the harsh living conditions, with abandoned buildings and a sense of defeatism. Erica's school counselor notes her determination to improve her grades, and her resilience is evident in her interactions and her will to help her mother. The script ends with a poignant scene where Erica's mother returns home, but the cycle of addiction continues, and Erica is left to navigate her life with a mix of hope and reality. The story serves as a testament to the strength of children in the face of adversity and the pervasive impact of addiction on families and communities.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Joblessness
💡Industrialization
💡Coal Mining Industry
💡War on Poverty
💡Appalachian Pride
💡Depression
💡Prescription Drugs
💡Addictiveness
💡Operation Unite
💡Drug Addiction
💡Rehab
Highlights
Joblessness in the Inez area is primarily due to a lack of industrialization and losses in coal mining.
Lyndon B. Johnson declared war on poverty in Inez, Kentucky in 1964.
Bobby Kennedy traveled over 200 miles in two days in 1968 to hear stories of Appalachian families.
Bill Gorman, a former TV reporter, is now the mayor of Hazzard, reflecting on changes after Bobby's visit.
Investments in schools and highways have helped some Appalachian communities flourish.
Appalachian communities in the hills still face poverty, low educational attainment, and health issues.
Central Appalachia has one of the lowest average annual incomes in the nation.
The availability of government resources is a key difference between urban and Appalachian areas.
Prescription drug abuse is a thriving industry in Appalachia, especially for oxycontin.
Purdue Pharma was fined $635 million in 2007 for misleading marketing of oxycontin.
Drug dealers can make more money selling oxycontin in Harlan County than in big cities.
Operation Unite is an initiative combating drug abuse in the region.
Street value of prescription drugs like oxycontin is high, with dealers potentially earning more than in urban areas.
Drug addiction is prevalent in communities where people lack a sense of belonging and future.
Erica Floyd, a young girl, is trying to help her mother battling addiction.
Erica's mother is in and out of rehab, struggling with addiction and the family's situation is unstable.
Despite the challenges, Erica remains hopeful and determined to make the best of her situation.
Transcripts
[Music]
joblessness in the inés area is
attributable primarily to a general lack
of industrialization and losses in the
coal mining industry
inez kentucky 1964 Lyndon Baines Johnson
declares his war on poverty here and
then four years later Bobby Kennedy
inspires Appalachian pride as he travels
over 200 miles in two days to hear the
stories of the families all of us
working together all of us recognizing
our responsibilities and my judgment we
can have some success back then bill
Gorman was a TV reporter walking the
streets of Hazzard with Bobby Kennedy 41
years later he's the mayor of Hazzard
walking the same street with me and
saying it is better this changed a whole
lot after Bobby visited here there's
been money for new schools and highways
which helped many communities flourish
you have two Appalachian today
communities very similar to what one
would find in many suburban places all
across the country but up in the hills
it's a different story
coal companies have taken billions in
profit out of the mountains we end up
making huge sacrifices and then if you
look at the area you see people are poor
the educational attainment is less and
often people are not as healthy so
whatever opportunities supposed to be
there
this hasn't arrived today in the
depressed counties of Central Appalachia
families have an average annual income
less than the cost of a new car the
second lowest in the nation and the
trash a kind of defeatism left on the
lawn but what's happened to prized
I think pride is still there the
difference between urban places and
Appalachia is the availability of
government resources to pick up that
trash mountain people I don't think have
given up but when you when you organize
and you fight and you struggle and
things don't change markedly for you
then you step back and you find a way
for your family to survive and one
thriving industry for survivors dealing
prescription drugs particularly in
Appalachia we've seen it be kind of a
sacrifice area where big pharmaceutical
companies were
the drugs into the area and really get
off fairly scot-free in 2007 Purdue
Pharma the company which markets the
potent oxycontin was fine 635 million
dollars for deliberately misleading
people about the addictiveness of the
drug at the time doctors in the
mountains had been prescribing it for
everything from back pain to arthritis
and while lortab and xanax are often
obtained through Medicaid robbery often
produces the oxycontin for dealers they
can make more money in one weekend here
in Harlan County and they can an entire
month on the big city streets of Chicago
or Detroit or New York
Karen Engle is the executive director of
the law enforcement and education
initiative operation unite we're told
some prescription drugs like xanax and
lortab have a street price from five to
fifteen dollars per pill but oxycontin
even if you can only get it once a month
is the prize so what's the street value
of a pill though of an oxycontin here in
Harlan yes our driver and undercover
detective says the dealer could be
anyone next door it's a babble
I think you see drug addiction in
communities where people don't see a
place for themselves don't see a
trajectory a babysitter deals oxycontin
while a child watches cartoon a mayor
indicted for trading pills for votes so
he pled not guilty or nolo and for every
adult dealing or using drugs a child
begins to drown
five years ago wYMT Mountain News
profiled six hero Erica Floyd on
Mother's Day her mother in jail for the
fourth DUI she drinks sometimes but
that's not right for me Erica kept a
drawer of pictures for when her mom
comes home crossing her fingers every
time the phone rings follow me
everything is all right I believe you
I don't bother s erica then Erica now
eleven years old still trying to help
the mother now battling addiction to
lortab at oxycontin I don't need her out
of this town stone and she'll probably
die any day
mother and daughter talk of love our
lighting chip is like peas and carrots
or an Oscar yeah amid the broken
promises she's all I have and it's more
to me then they need any dry dock
anything in this world and I'm sorry
you've had to go through this no it's
not Social Services forces her mother
into rehab
[Music]
but soon Erika's mother's back home and
sliding again and Erica can be seen
walking alone through her town which is
boarded up abandoned by the coal company
reason I go in these boxes because I
don't want to get away from my mom it's
just like huh
she's just mom I pick her up on the
streets at night sometimes walking her
school counselor tells us Erica's trying
to hang on in classes I hear that you
pulled your math grade up I had an ass
before then I'll bring it up to a C and
then now it's two points away from a
congratulations how about with you and
your mom you know what kind of drugs she
was doing did you see her and I know it
was happening
how'd you know I had a look in her eyes
when she lied to me why do you think she
does it pain misery what would you say
to everybody out there about being a kid
here you gotta make the better of it was
he still alive
they're just they keep on holding on top
when we last saw her her mother's still
struggling with addiction the house
where they had been living burned and
they had to move out but once more erica
was refusing to give up hope I just felt
like it caught from God saying it's a
new start
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