The Local Lens is a public health podcast going inside one community's experience with the drug epidemic. Everyone in the town of Stanton, KY sees this drug issue differently from each other, either because of their personal lives or professional roles. This show aims to showcase those different perspectives by having honest, in-depth interviews.S.P.A.R.K. Ministries is a very active nonprofit based in Stanton, KY that is dedicated to helping people live in recovery. Each year, they hold a Recovery Rally to celebrate the resilient people who have made it through addiction and help other people who are starting their own fights against the disease. In this week's episode of The Local Lens, we go into this year's rally to capture the event.We've interviewed 7 different people in this episode to find out why they think this rally is important to them. The overwhelming and natural theme of the day is "hope..." everyone talked about hope. It seems to be about letting everyone else know they're not alone. If there's anyone we should be listening to about recovery, it's the people who have done it. These are our people, using our voices, telling our stories, because no one sees it like we do.Call S.P.A.R.K. with this number: (606) 344-4103Mentioned Episodes:Jenell Brewer of S.P.A.R.K. MinistriesLois Goodwin - The ChaseThe True Roots of Recovery - Part One - Dr. Alex ElswickGet Tabatha Wilson's book, "Guilt, Hurt, Shame, but Not Defeat." Keep up with The Local Lens on Facebook, Instagram (@thelocallens_podcast) or on their website.The Local Lens is sponsored by Kentucky Opioid Community Healing (from the Kentucky Rural Health Information Organization) and Powell County CARES (from the Powell County Health Department).Find Powell County CARES on social media:https://www.facebook.com/powellcountycaresInstagram: @powellcountycares

The Local Lens is a public health podcast going inside one community's experience with the drug epidemic. Everyone in the town of Stanton, KY sees this drug issue differently from each other, either because of their personal lives or professional roles. This show aims to showcase those different perspectives by having honest, in-depth interviews.This episode is Part Two of our conversation with Alex Elswick. To put it briefly, Elswick became addicted to prescription opiates and heroine, then was homeless a while, then started recovery, then became a professor at UK, and at some point cofounded a nonprofit in Lexington (Voices of Hope).His experiences have shaped his philosophies and approach to recovery, and in this episode, we dig deep into these. His ideas center around one key point: he is where he is now because of his privilege and access to resources. Nowadays, his goal is to extend this advantage to anyone who wants it.These are our people, using our voices, telling our stories, because no one sees it like we do.Mentioned Episodes:Krista Newton - Taking a Hard Look BackPaula Adams - The Effects on the FamilyKeep up with The Local Lens on Facebook, Instagram (@thelocallens_podcast) or on their website.The Local Lens is sponsored by Kentucky Opioid Community Healing (from the Kentucky Rural Health Information Organization) and Powell County CARES (from the Powell County Health Department).Find Powell County CARES on social media:https://www.facebook.com/powellcountycaresInstagram: @powellcountycares

The Local Lens is a public health podcast going inside one community's experience with the drug epidemic. Everyone in the town of Stanton, KY sees this drug issue differently from each other, either because of their personal lives or professional roles. This show aims to showcase those different perspectives by having honest, in-depth interviews.Our guest for this episode is Alex Elswick. To put it briefly, Elswick became addicted to prescription opiates and heroine, then was homeless a while, then started recovery, then became a professor at UK, and at some point cofounded a nonprofit in Lexington (Voices of Hope).Thankfully, we get to hear more of his story directly from him. In part one of this two-part series with Dr. Elswick, we focus on getting to know the experiences that have shaped his approach to recovery. In part two, we get more into some surprising realities of recovery.These are our people, using our voices, telling our stories, because no one sees it like we do.Keep up with The Local Lens on Facebook, Instagram (@thelocallens_podcast) or on their website.The Local Lens is sponsored by Kentucky Opioid Community Healing (from the Kentucky Rural Health Information Organization) and Powell County CARES (from the Powell County Health Department).Find Powell County CARES on social media:https://www.facebook.com/powellcountycaresInstagram: @powellcountycares

The Local Lens is a public health podcast going inside one community's experience with the drug epidemic. Everyone in the town of Stanton, KY sees this drug issue differently from each other, either because of their personal lives or professional roles. This show aims to showcase those different perspectives by having honest, in-depth interviews.Jordan Shuler comes on board to tell his story in this episode. Jordan was a teammate of our host, Nate Brooks, throughout middle and high school in Powell County. In the interview, they talk about how Jordan's addiction began, where he's at now, and what got him through it all. The common theme that arose from the conversation is how involved other people had been throughout his addiction. Jordan's story ties in a web of people. Luckily, he made his way into a group that helped him along his recovery. He is now a peer support specialist for SPARK Ministries and Mountain Comprehensive Care and is extending the same helping hand he received. These are our people, using our voices, telling our stories, because no one sees it like we do.Mentioned episodes:Jeremy and Edna Thompson - A Married Couple of Peer Support SpecialistsJenell Brewer - Founder of SPARK MinistriesKeep up with The Local Lens on Facebook, Instagram (@thelocallens_podcast) or on their website.The Local Lens is sponsored by Kentucky Opioid Community Healing (from the Kentucky Rural Health Information Organization) and Powell County CARES (from the Powell County Health Department).Find Powell County CARES on social media:https://www.facebook.com/powellcountycaresInstagram: @powellcountycares

The Local Lens is a public health podcast going inside one community's experience with the drug epidemic. Everyone in the town of Stanton, KY sees this drug issue differently from each other, either because of their personal lives or professional roles. This show aims to showcase those different perspectives by having honest, in-depth interviews.There is nearly an endless amount of roles to be played in the fight against addiction - Ralph Alvarado certainly plays an interesting one.He is a physician, practicing internal medicine and pediatrics. He is also a Kentucky State Senator for the 28th district (Montgomery, Clark and part of Fayette County). He is also the medical director for Isaiah House, a regional recovery center.So, we have a doctor who cares about addiction treatment in the senate. This is important for several reasons, but most notably for what it means for health policy in our state. If we're going to see real progress in the health of our communities, we have to have policy that supports recovery. In this episode, we explore some of the challenges of healthcare and how addiction treatment fits into the wider medical world.These are our people, using our voices, telling our stories, because no one sees it like we do.Mentioned episodes:Jenell Brewer - Founder of SPARK MinistriesScott Seitz - A Holistic ApproachKeep up with The Local Lens on Facebook, Instagram (@thelocallens_podcast) or on their website.The Local Lens is sponsored by Kentucky Opioid Community Healing (from the Kentucky Rural Health Information Organization) and Powell County CARES (from the Powell County Health Department).Find Powell County CARES on social media:https://www.facebook.com/powellcountycaresInstagram: @powellcountycares

The Local Lens is a public health podcast going inside one community's experience with the drug epidemic. Everyone in the town of Stanton, KY sees this drug issue differently from each other, either because of their personal lives or professional roles. This show aims to showcase those different perspectives by having honest, in-depth interviews.Carlie Dehart did many years of growing up with a fraction of a mother. Misty Dehart may not have meant to leave Carlie, but Carlie was left. from ages 3-14, Misty wasn't around. Once Misty returned, she was in long-term recovery and ready to start being a mother.It wasn't easy. As an outsider, it is shocking and sobering to hear about their experience reuniting. However, both of them would proudly tell you now that things have changed. The two grew closer than they imagined they could have. After the fact, there seems to be an appreciation you can only have when you've been without. In this episode of The Local Lens, Misty and Carlie join us to share their experience and thoughts. It's hard to hear, but in Misty's words, "it's good, though. We're healing."These are our people, using our voices, telling our stories, because no one sees it like we do.Listen to our other episode with Misty:Structure, Support, and Small Compromises - Misty DehartKeep up with The Local Lens on Facebook, Instagram (@thelocallens_podcast) or on their website.The Local Lens is sponsored by Kentucky Opioid Community Healing (from the Kentucky Rural Health Information Organization) and Powell County CARES (from the Powell County Health Department).Find Powell County CARES on social media:https://www.facebook.com/powellcountycaresInstagram: @powellcountycares

The Local Lens is a public health podcast going inside one community's experience with the drug epidemic. Everyone in the town of Stanton, KY sees this drug issue differently from each other, either because of their personal lives or professional roles. This show aims to showcase those different perspectives by having honest, in-depth interviews.This week, we are once again joined by three members of a Nar-Anon support group in Richmond, KY who are all from Irvine: Marti Hackworth, Rebecca Wolfinbarger and Laura Helvey. This is the second part of our conversation, in which we learn their responses to their family's battles with addiction. If you've not yet heard Part One, you can listen to that here. In this episode, we get to hear about the importance of advocacy. Laura Helvey runs the SPARK Ministries office in Richmond - all three are strong advocates for recovery. Our goal is for everyone in our region to become advocates like this without having to have the lived experience they have, and this comes through empathy.These are our people, using our voices, telling our stories, because no one sees it like we do.Paula Adams, a guest on a previous episode, is also a member of this group, though she could not attend the interview. You can still go back and hear her whole story here.We also mention the Recovery Wagon in this episode, which is a group that will help folks get help when they need it. Check out their Facebook page here. Keep up with The Local Lens on Facebook, Instagram (@thelocallens_podcast) or on their website.The Local Lens is sponsored by Kentucky Opioid Community Healing (from the Kentucky Rural Health Information Organization) and Powell County CARES (from the Powell County Health Department).Find Powell County CARES on social media:https://www.facebook.com/powellcountycaresInstagram: @powellcountycares

The Local Lens is a public health podcast going inside one community's experience with the drug epidemic. Everyone in the town of Stanton, KY sees this drug issue differently from each other, either because of their personal lives or professional roles. This show aims to showcase those different perspectives by having honest, in-depth interviews.This week, we are joined on the show by three members of a Nar-Anon support group in Richmond, KY who are all from Irvine: Marti Hackworth, Rebecca Wolfinbarger and Laura Helvey. Paula Adams, a guest on a previous episode, is also a member of this group, though she could not attend the interview. You can listen to her episode here. This is, in fact, part one of a two-part episode with these ladies. We spend part one getting a background on each of the women and learning about the importance of support. Each of them had a child who suffered from SUD, but they teach us that even they had a need for recovery as mothers. One of the main takeaways is that plenty of people are hurt by just one addiction, and it is a lot easier to get by with the help of some loving friends around you. These are our people, using our voices, telling our stories, because no one sees it like we do.Keep up with The Local Lens on Facebook, Instagram (@thelocallens_podcast) or on their website.The Local Lens is sponsored by Kentucky Opioid Community Healing (from the Kentucky Rural Health Information Organization) and Powell County CARES (from the Powell County Health Department).Find Powell County CARES on social media:https://www.facebook.com/powellcountycaresInstagram: @powellcountycares

The Local Lens is a public health podcast going inside one community's experience with the drug epidemic. Everyone in the town of Stanton, KY sees this drug issue differently from each other, either because of their personal lives or professional roles. This show aims to showcase those different perspectives by having honest, in-depth interviews.Sheila and Jimmie Wise offer an incredible perspective as a married couple. They claim that they eat, breathe and sleep EMS, which means they deal with the drug epidemic around the clock and calendar. The three of us go into some of thee harder aspects of the public service, and point out some of the shortfalls of existing programs like the Syringe Exchange and the availability of Narcan. In a sentence, our point is that these are not the final step, but they are an important part of the puzzle. Their lives revolve around serving their community to the best of their ability. The stakes are high in their line of work, so I believe it's safe to assume they take this seriously and have given it some thought. These are our people, using our voices, telling our stories, because no one sees it like we do.Jimmie Wise has actually recorded another episode with us, which you can listen to with this link.Keep up with The Local Lens on Facebook, Instagram (@thelocallens_podcast) or on their website.The Local Lens is sponsored by Kentucky Opioid Community Healing (from the Kentucky Rural Health Information Organization) and Powell County CARES (from the Powell County Health Department).Find Powell County CARES on social media:https://www.facebook.com/powellcountycaresInstagram: @powellcountycares

The Local Lens is a public health podcast going inside one community's experience with the drug epidemic. Everyone in the town of Stanton, KY sees this drug issue differently from each other, either because of their personal lives or professional roles. This show aims to showcase those different perspectives by having honest, in-depth interviews.Krista Newton comes onto the show as hard as a wrecking ball. We start by jumping to the first time she used at the age of 12 and work through the years, thoughts and feelings together. We talk about her life structure, her role in her family, and her place in the community. The peer support specialist from Mountain Comprehensive Care never shies away from any questions, even the uncomfortable ones. The only hesitations given are her ensuring she's giving us an honest look. These are our people, using our voices, telling our stories, because no one sees it like we do.We also included a fun bit about Orange is the New Black as some extra content at the end of the episode for all you streamers. Keep up with The Local Lens on Facebook, Instagram (@thelocallens_podcast) or on their website.The Local Lens is sponsored by Kentucky Opioid Community Healing (from the Kentucky Rural Health Information Organization) and Powell County CARES (from the Powell County Health Department).Find Powell County CARES on social media:https://www.facebook.com/powellcountycaresInstagram: @powellcountycares