We have talked about ‘diseases of despair’ before. It’s been a while since we have revisited this topic. It has been brought to public attention again, with a report commissioned by ARC (Appalachian Regional Commission) and confirms some things everyone has considered at one time or another.

Whether we like it or not, bad things do happen in our region. The fact is that there are substance abuses occurring here. People are suffering in so many ways, neighbors, friends, family, colleagues, all are directly or indirectly affected by the related problems of substance ‘misuse.’ It’s enough to cause a lump to form in your throat that is hard to swallow, and a tear to your eyes when you think of the far-reaching effects of the diseases of despair that affect many, claim the lives of too many, impact the health and well-being of children who are left behind when a parent dies from drug overdose, suicide or alcohol-related illness. Does anyone think about the children, what they need to feel secure, loved, accepted, treasured?

ARC says, “This study analyzed the impact of diseases of despair on mortality within the Appalachian Region, focusing on mortality from three main causes: alcohol, prescription drug and illegal drug overdose; suicide; and alcoholic liver disease/cirrhosis of the liver. It served as an update to the 2017 ARC report looking at the same issues, providing three additional years of single-year data that allowed recent trends to be analyzed. (You can find the report at www.arc.gov/report/appalachian-diseases-of-despair.)

The report advises that “economically distressed counties had higher mortality rates for all three causes of death: overdose, suicide, and liver disease/cirrhosis.” It also notes that covid-19 contributed to the increase in the effects of diseases of despair.

Despair is the complete loss or absence of hope. It is a stretch for this writer to understand that about 40 years has passed since the Economic Malaise (a fancy term for the economic depression that devastated the tri-state area in 1980 or so.) And we still see these things today. The devastation of men and women who lost their jobs, their livelihoods, and became unable to take care of their families, their obligations. Families were torn apart. Displaced workers became severely depressed, and worse.

It isn’t easy to handle all the challenges – and obstacles – that life hands to us in challenging times. People need people, friends, mentors, helpers who can guide when we don’t have the right answers to our questions. When you think you are alone with no resources, when you can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel, it is easy to fall prey to despair, which is related to things like major depression and anxiety disorders, and deaths by diseases of despair.

If you are too isolated, get connected with other people that you can trust. If you are worried about your problems, your situation, connect with someone you trust who can help you through – help, not take care of it for you, because it is in the doing that we learn and become stronger, more self-sufficient. Humans are social creatures. Human beings need connections to other human beings.

For more information about Family Recovery Center’s programs and services for substance abuse and related behavioral issues, contact the agency at 964 N. Market St., Lisbon; phone, 330-424-1468; or email info@familyrecovery.org. Visit the website at familyrecovery.org. You can find Family Recovery Center at Facebook. FRC is funded in part by the Columbiana County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board.