Those touched by addiction spent summer 2016 working with faculty members Dr. Kristen Lillvis and Kristin Steele of Marshall’s English department to refine their monologues, which they will read on the stage of the Joan C. Edwards Performing Arts Center. For each “Addiction in Appalachia” presenter, the story is a personal one, like that of Susan Busby, whose son has been in recovery for three months.
“If addiction has not touched your family, you are a minority,” said Busby, who helped found Warriors of Hope, a local group that organizes awareness, prevention and support for treatment programs for addiction. “We must continue to talk about substance abuse and recovery, as well as educate people on this disease that is ravaging our state.”
Amy Saunders, director of Marshall’s Student Health Education Programs, said the university and community are working hard to get ahead of the substance abuse epidemic sweeping through communities across the nation.
“We believe we can make an impact by helping those affected share their stories,” Saunders said. “We hope the audience walks away from this event with a better understanding about substance abuse and increased knowledge that this disease affects everyone. We want to help those who might feel that they do not have a voice tell their stories.”
Admission to “Addiction in Appalachia: Our Stories” is free and the presentation is open to the public. For more information, contact Saunders at saunde22@marshall.edu.