Rural America’s Crisis

Ash shares a poignant reflection on the stark racial homogeneity of her hometown and the devastating impact of the opioid epidemic. She highlights how the marketing strategies of pharmaceutical companies targeted rural white communities, leading to widespread addiction and a tragic cycle that transitioned from prescription drugs to heroin and fentanyl. The conversation reveals the deep-rooted despair and challenges faced by these communities, exacerbated by economic changes like fracking.