When you think of “Appalachian cooking,” what comes to mind? For a lot of folks, it’s savory comfort foods like biscuits with sausage gravy, crispy fried chicken and mashed potatoes loaded with butter. But, what about folks who want that comfort food, without involving animals? Jan Brandenburg is a pharmacist and poet in Eastern Kentucky. Over the last 30 years, she’s collected and perfected recipes that take a plant-based approach to the Appalachian table. Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Brandenburg about her new book The Modern Mountain Cookbook.
Us & Them: Black West Virginians With Substance Use Disorder Face Unique Challenges
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The Trump administration’s effort to cut federal spending targets a broad range of agencies and initiatives, including the low-income health care program Medicaid. Republican lawmakers are considering adding work requirements or decreasing federal investment dollars toward states providing the program. Typically, this money would be used to pay for doctors visits, nursing home care, or prescriptions. But the scope of Medicaid programs goes beyond day-to-day health care.
Many people rely on Medicaid to seek help for substance use disorder and drug and alcohol addiction. West Virginia has the nation’s highest overdose rate. In recent years, the state’s overdoses among African Americans have risen above any other group.
In this episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay learns how Medicaid money supports the organizations that work in recovery and what that work looks like.
This episode of Us & Them is presented with support from The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation.Subscribe to Us & Them on Apple Podcasts, NPR One, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher and beyond.
Reverend James Pattersonhas led the Partnership of African American Churches (PAAC) for the past two decades as its founder and president/CEO. PAAC is a nonprofit, collaborative, faith-based community development corporation based in Charleston, WV, that also provides health care.
Photo Credit: PAAC
“Every time we had discussions, I was doing focus group research. We started talking about kids, the challenges they face, and other issues in our communities. Everybody kept saying, ‘the real problem is them drugs’—that’s exactly how they said it. So, we decided to do something about it. We began by implementing prevention programs and training community health workers, and then we trained them in peer support as recovery coaches.”
Many Black West Virginians have had uncomfortable experiences when visiting the doctor—experiences that can discourage people of color from seeking medical care, mental health treatment or help for drug addiction. Dr. Wendy Lewis, clinical director for the Partnership of African American Churches and a researcher of this phenomenon, explains the impact of these encounters.
Photo Credit: PAAC
“Every day, people face subtle but constant annoyances because of their color—especially Black people. They are insulted, invalidated and sometimes physically, verbally and mentally assaulted just for being Black. I see this as a double malady that people must overcome daily, particularly when they’re also dealing with addiction and racism. The stress they endure is something others rarely experience.
We are a licensed behavioral health center that provides treatment for substance use disorder. We offer a residential treatment facility, medication-assisted treatment and multiple sober living facilities.”
— Dr. Wendy Lewis, clinical director for the Partnership of African American Churches, Charleston, WV
Kevin Watkins received training as a peer support coach from the Partnership of African American Churches. A native of Charleston’s Westside—a community with a high concentration of Black residents—Watkins describes the area as “the valley of the shadow of death” because many people he knew died too young. Watkins struggled with substance use disorder, starting with alcohol at a young age and later turning to marijuana, pills and, eventually, speed, which he injected.
Photo Credit: PAAC
“I had a teacher who was trying to help me, to show me the right way. I was one of those kids with ADD—I could never sit still—so I spent most of my time in the office. I don’t think he understood the full extent of my problem, or he wouldn’t have paddled me as he did. I knew I had issues when I tried to break into his house.
Looking back, I wonder why I did it all. Part of it was the divorce—my dad was never around, having started another family—so I never had the support system other kids had. I felt like I fell through the cracks in Orchard Manor. Sometimes I’d wake up in the old county jail, not even knowing why I was there, beat up and bleeding. I knew I had a serious situation on my hands.”
— Kevin Watkins, peer support coach trained by the Partnership of African American Churches
Robert Hansen is retired after nearly 50 years in West Virginia’s behavioral health field, including a two-year stint as director of the state’s Office of Drug Control Policy—known as the drug czar.
Photo Credit: The Charleston Gazette-Mail
“Residential treatment programs in West Virginia have grown dramatically. Back in 2016, 2017 and 2018, the state had about 150 to 200 treatment beds. Today, there are more than 1,700. Providers are expanding services on the theory that Medicaid funding will continue.
The bulk of Medicaid money comes from the federal government—with Congress and the president’s approval—while West Virginia must supply matching dollars. The Partnership of African American Churches is funded similarly; as they apply for grants from the Bureau of Behavioral Health or the federal government, they have opportunities aligned with their expertise. Otherwise, their core funding is no different from any other addiction treatment provider.”
— Robert Hansen, former director of West Virginia’s Office of Drug Control Policy
DEI programs aimed to expand opportunity—now they’re facing pushback. On the latest Us & Them, host Trey Kay examines the political and cultural forces challenging diversity, equity and inclusion efforts—and why more than 30 states have considered rolling them back.
On this West Virginia Morning, we look at the impact trade tariffs could have on farmers, and hear about a recent poetry book released by a Webster County native.
Gov. Patrick Morrisey has appointed a long-time corrections employee, Lance Yardley, as the acting commissioner of the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
