Abstract

Since the opioid epidemic began in the 1990s, it has caused over 500,000 deaths and left thousands more with lifelong addiction struggles, but this tragedy was not evenly distributed throughout the US. The damage caused by the opioid epidemic was specifically felt in Appalachia and other rural regions like it. This thesis describes the factors present in both the Appalachian community and the opioid epidemic that resulted in this crisis being so devastating to the region. The reliance on labor-intensive blue-collar work, close family bonds, and the high presence of poverty in the region made it a sought-after target of the higher-ups of Purdue Pharma. The marketing strategy and the ease in which the pills were prescribed during the peak of the epidemic were used to target this rural area. The epidemic was able to thrive in this region specifically because of the lack of care that is given towards Appalachia, due to its rural characteristics. This research focuses on expanding on these correlations and explaining why this travesty was so successful.

Semester/Year of Award

Spring 2025

Mentor

Erin Presley

Mentor Department Affiliation

English

Access Options

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Honors Scholars

Degree Level

Bachelors

Department

Justice Studies

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