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.
On this episode, our guests have conducted their own interviews with county inmates across Northeastern Kentucky. What they have heard over and over again is this: they aren't being offered anything that will help their situation improve. They are being held a while, then are released back into a world where they don't have any of the resources needed to start a more stable life, and then eventually are arrested again before seeing anything change for themselves.
Many people say the jail has a revolving door, cycling the same people in and out for years, never really correcting any underlying issues. How can we break this cycle? This week, our guests are working on it.
First Day Forward is a project ran by the Northeastern Kentucky Substance Use Response Coalition that is helping people leave jail with a plan, and sticking around for the journey after release. The program is based on the results from the interviews they conducted with inmates. In this episode, we learn about this program and even more about the issues faced by people as they re-enter society after incarceration.
These are our people, using our voices, telling our stories, because no one sees it like we do.
Mentioned episodes:
In the Jailhouse Now - Neal Hamilton and David Howard
From Crisis to Career - Will Arvin and Brandon Hill
To learn more about First Day Forward, visit their website.
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