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.

In our previous episode, we started to learn about Franklin County's Just Say Yes program (listen to that episode here). In this episode, we're going into the "why" behind it all, both in Frankfort's Just Say Yes program and in any form of public work.

We don't shy away from theory, we talk about intentions and having our actions match our intentions, we talk about what justifies government spending.

It's a can of worms, and it's likely our final episode. Welcome to it, folks. These are our people, using our voices, telling our stories, because no one sees it like we do.

These are our people, using our voices, telling our stories, because no one sees it like we do.

Read more about the Icelandic Prevention Model: https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2017/01/teens-drugs-iceland/513668/

Learn more about Yes Arts here: https://yesarts.org/just-say-yes

Also, while you're here, help us out by taking this quick survey!

24-Hour Crisis Line: 1-833-8KY-HELP (1-833-859-4357)

Visit findhelpnowky.org to find treatment options for you in Kentucky.

Need help now? Call the Mountain Comp Care 24-Hour Helpline: 1-800-422-1060

Learn more about the Kentucky State Police's Angel Initiative 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/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.

Iceland seems to have found a way to substantially reduce teen substance use. In fact, they flipped from having the worst rates in Europe to the best rates of teen substance use in less than two decades. What lies at the base of this approach? Well, that's what we're here to figure out today.

Amelia Berry, from the Franklin County Health Department, joins the show to tell us about not only the Icelandic Prevention Model, but also the program she is helping to run using that model: Just Say Yes. There are so many details to cover on this topic, so strap in and sponge up.

These are our people, using our voices, telling our stories, because no one sees it like we do.

Click the link here for Part 2 of our conversation with Amelia Berry:

Read more about the Icelandic Prevention Model: https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2017/01/teens-drugs-iceland/513668/

Learn more about Yes Arts here: https://yesarts.org/just-say-yes

Also, while you're here, help us out by taking this quick survey!

24-Hour Crisis Line: 1-833-8KY-HELP (1-833-859-4357)

Visit findhelpnowky.org to find treatment options for you in Kentucky.

Need help now? Call the Mountain Comp Care 24-Hour Helpline: 1-800-422-1060

Learn more about the Kentucky State Police's Angel Initiative 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/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.

Among the many problems facing Eastern Kentuckians, one of the most foundational is the lack of consistent job opportunities. The lack of income and structure a job provides compounds with several other issues that make it pretty difficult to maintain a desired life. For people in active addiction or in recovery, the effects of either having or not having a job are multiplied, as we've heard countless times over the course of The Local Lens.

The Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program (EKCEP) has been helping all Kentuckians find employment for years, but now they have launched a new program designed specifically for people in recovery. The Strategic Initiative for Transformational Employment (SITE) is designed to help connect people in recovery who are looking to launch careers with the employers around our state looking to fill openings.

Their approach takes time and effort -- they hope to get people into a dream career with a full, bright future, not just the first job available. SITE works with people to find something they can be excited about, something they can rally behind.

These are our people, using our voices, telling our stories, because no one sees it like we do.

Learn more about the EKCEP SITE program with this link: https://www.ekcep.org/site

Listen to another episode of ours featuring Brittany Kegley with AppHarvest: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1668655/10844528-appharvest-brittany-kegley-and-patrick-bryant

Also, while you're here, help us out by taking this quick survey!

24-Hour Crisis Line: 1-833-8KY-HELP (1-833-859-4357)

Visit findhelpnowky.org to find treatment options for you in Kentucky.

Need help now? Call the Mountain Comp Care 24-Hour Helpline: 1-800-422-1060

Learn more about the Kentucky State Police's Angel Initiative 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/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.

"Wellness" is a term that has gained more prominence in the healthcare world over the years. Today, as we find ourselves in the middle of both mental health and overdose crises, it is as apparent as ever the need to provide enough resources for both mental and physical health. In Stanton, KY, we have a new addition to the list of healthcare providers: Raven Rock Health and Wellness.

Heather Deel from Raven Rock joins the show to give us the rundown of what they offer and why it's needed. Their services cover nearly all of a patient's health needs, and the case managers on board handle adjacent needs. We also discuss a bit of what it's like to launch a new healthcare center today. Any way you look at it, there is a lot to learn from Raven Rock.

These are our people, using our voices, telling our stories, because no one sees it like we do.

Contact Raven Rock by phone: (606) 775-0515 or on their website: https://www.ravenrockhw.com/

Also, while you're here, help us out by taking this quick survey!

24-Hour Crisis Line: 1-833-8KY-HELP (1-833-859-4357)

Visit findhelpnowky.org to find treatment options for you in Kentucky.

Need help now? Call the Mountain Comp Care 24-Hour Helpline: 1-800-422-1060

Learn more about the Kentucky State Police's Angel Initiative 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/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.

Robert Childs joins us for a second round of conversation (click here to hear Part 1). This time, we focus heavily on changing policy. We want the law of our land to encourage good outcomes, making it easy and obvious how people can live healthier.

We would like to state that Robert's comments express only his own self and beliefs -- he does not represent any organizations in this interview.

These are our people, using our voices, telling our stories, because no one sees it like we do.

Learn more about model law here: https://legislativeanalysis.org/model-laws/

Also, while you're here, help us out by taking this quick survey!

24-Hour Crisis Line: 1-833-8KY-HELP (1-833-859-4357)

Visit findhelpnowky.org to find treatment options for you in Kentucky.

Need help now? Call the Mountain Comp Care 24-Hour Helpline: 1-800-422-1060

Learn more about the Kentucky State Police's Angel Initiative 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/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.

When it comes to taking effective action, there aren't many people more knowledgable than Robert Childs. He seems to have made a habit of seeing what needs to be done and making sure it happens. He has been around the country doing this work and has been active in setting up laws to allow and encourage progress.

In this conversation, Childs catches us up on what has been happening and what is coming in harm reduction. He shares some lessons of how to make a real difference and do the right thing, whether it is legal or not.

These are our people, using our voices, telling our stories, because no one sees it like we do.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of this conversation!

Also, while you're here, help us out by taking this quick survey!

24-Hour Crisis Line: 1-833-8KY-HELP (1-833-859-4357)

Visit findhelpnowky.org to find treatment options for you in Kentucky.

Need help now? Call the Mountain Comp Care 24-Hour Helpline: 1-800-422-1060

Learn more about the Kentucky State Police's Angel Initiative 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/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.

A story has more power than we may realize. Just being able to hear and relate to someone else's life experiences can give us the motivation we need to make it another day. This episode's guest fully understands this power.

Andrew Hager joins us in the studio to tell us about his own life and how he works to share other people's stories, as well. His podcast, Andrew Hager Live, reaches thousands of folks around the country. Blameless Children, an event he has helped launch, lets hundreds of people gather to support kids raised in households hit by addiction.

He is one of our generation's torch-bearers. He holds the microphone and operates the spotlight. He is helping us all feel the power of a story.

These are our people, using our voices, telling our stories, because no one sees it like we do.

Check out Andrew Hager Live on Facebook!

Keep your eyes out for the Blameless Children event in the summertime! Visit their website for more information.

Also, while you're here, help us out by taking this quick survey!

24-Hour Crisis Line: 1-833-8KY-HELP (1-833-859-4357)

Visit findhelpnowky.org to find treatment options for you in Kentucky.

Need help now? Call the Mountain Comp Care 24-Hour Helpline: 1-800-422-1060

Learn more about the Kentucky State Police's Angel Initiative 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/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.

Everyone is influenced by their environment. People tend to reflect what is around them. For people in recovery, you hope your environment is one that will build you up, support you, and help you keep your momentum. One place to find this environment is in a sober living house.

This week, we are taking a look at sober living houses. We've been joined by our friends Edna and Jeremy Thompson (listen to their stories here), who have just opened Redemption House, their own sober living house. We look at why these houses are necessary, what their operation will be like,  and why we need lots of these all over the place.

These are our people, using our voices, telling our stories, because no one sees it like we do.

If you want to contact Redemption House, whether it's to learn more, donate, volunteer, or even move in, here is some information for you:
Phone: (606) 386-6855
eMail: [email protected]
Physical Address: 3047 Cane Ridge Road, Little Rock, KY
Mailing Address: PO Box 751, Clay City, KY 40312

Also, while you're here, help us out by taking this quick survey!

24-Hour Crisis Line: 1-833-8KY-HELP (1-833-859-4357)

Visit findhelpnowky.org to find treatment options for you in Kentucky.

Need help now? Call the Mountain Comp Care 24-Hour Helpline: 1-800-422-1060

Learn more about the Kentucky State Police's Angel Initiative 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/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 features Van Ingram, the executive director of the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy for the past 18 years. He has been a part of many of the progressive pushes toward freedom from addiction our state has seen. A lot has been accomplished, but in his own words, "there is still a lot of work to do."

Topics flow from the history of the epidemic, "Recovery Ready Communities," criminal justice, and especially some nudges in the right direction for the future. We cover syringe exchanges, fentanyl test strips, and the balance of proactivity and using evidence-based practices. We also get to briefly cover the massive $483-million-dollar lump of money from the Johnson and Johnson settlement.

This man has been around since the beginning of our state's notable efforts to curb the opioid epidemic. The perspective he adds to our collage of a show is one that zooms all the way out, covering the big picture (at least for Kentucky).

These are our people, using our voices, telling our stories, because no one sees it like we do.

Mentioned Episodes
Jennell Brewer - Founder of SPARK Ministries
How It Works - Lt. Jimmy Daniels - Mount Sterling Police Department
The True Roots of Recovery - Part One - Dr. Alex Elswick
Jarrett Rose and Brad Epperson - The Role of the Court System

Mentioned Data Source:
Harm reduction measures employed by people using opioids with suspected fentanyl exposure in Boston, Baltimore, and Providence

Also, while you're here, help us out by taking this quick survey!

24-Hour Crisis Line: 1-833-8KY-HELP (1-833-859-4357)

Visit findhelpnowky.org to find treatment options for you in Kentucky.

Need help now? Call the Mountain Comp Care 24-Hour Helpline: 1-800-422-1060

Learn more about the Kentucky State Police's Angel Initiative 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/powellcountycares
Inst

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.

We're all familiar with the "drugs and rock and roll" trope, but many know how unsustainable that really is. Instead of that, we're taking a look at recovery and music in this episode.

The Local Lens is joined by Estill County musicians Jen Richardson and Aaron Boyd to talk about how songwriting and recovery work together in their lives. We also get to touch on their own music careers, their inspirations, and some projects in the works. We also had the chance to do a quick live recording after the interview.

These are our people, using our voices, telling our stories, because no one sees it like we do.

Look into Hollerbilly's line-up here: https://hollerbilly.com/

Also, while you're here, help us out by taking this quick survey!

24-Hour Crisis Line: 1-800-562 8909

Visit findhelpnowky.org to find treatment options for you in Kentucky.

Need help now? Call the Mountain Comp Care 24-Hour Helpline: 1-800-422-1060

Learn more about the Kentucky State Police's Angel Initiative 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/powellcountycares
Instagram: @powellcountycares