Allies in Recovery
Allies in Recovery
Podcast #56 Sam Quinones Speaks About his Award-Winning Book, Dreamland
Podcast #56 Sam Quinones Speaks About his Award-Winning Book, Dreamland
Podcast #56 Sam Quinones Speaks About his Award-Winning Book, Dreamland
Saturday 10th November 2018
Join Sam Quinones on 'Coming Up for Air' as he discusses 'Dreamland' and the opioid crisis, highlighting community impact and recovery strategies.
68 minutes
Informative
Thought-provoking
Raw
Engaging
Transformative
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Allies in Recovery
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Categories:
Sobriety Toolkit
Family Recovery from Addiction
Navigating Intimate Relationships
Understanding Addiction & Recovery
Creative Recovery Journeys
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Get the buttons here!Sam Quinones: Unpacking the Opioid Crisis Through 'Dreamland'
Leaving poverty is as much about ending humiliation.
Picture a small town grappling with the closure of its beloved community pool. Now, imagine that same town becoming the epicenter of America's opioid crisis. In this episode of 'Coming Up for Air', hosts Lori McDougal and Annie Highwater sit down with Sam Quinones, the journalist behind the award-winning book 'Dreamland: The True Tale of America's Opiate Epidemic'. Sam takes listeners on a journey through his extensive research, from Mexican cartel operations to intimate conversations with dealers in prison.
He shares how the decline of communal spaces like Dreamland in Portsmouth, Ohio, contributed to a perfect storm of isolation and addiction. The conversation dives deep into how addiction doesn't discriminate—it affects all socioeconomic classes and can tear communities apart. Sam also sheds light on the role of social media in worsening these divides. The episode explores the dynamics of small towns, the jealousy fueling drug trafficking, and the critical need for community support.
Quinones emphasizes that understanding different perspectives is key to grasping complex issues like addiction. He also discusses how poverty and isolation can drive people toward substance abuse, and highlights medication-assisted treatment as a vital recovery tool. Reflecting on his days as a crime reporter during the crack epidemic, Sam talks about the unexpected paths his stories took him down and the personal growth that came from those experiences.
The episode closes with poignant stories about former Walmart employees who turned to prostitution, underscoring how poverty can distort one's moral compass. Throughout, Sam and the hosts remind us of the importance of caring for each other and getting involved in combating addiction at the grassroots level. This episode is a compelling listen for anyone seeking to understand the multifaceted nature of America's opioid crisis.