Voices from the Front Lines
The Netflix documentary “Heroin(e)” follows the efforts of three extraordinary West Virginia women—Jan Rader, Patricia Keller and Necia Freeman—as they work to fight the opioid epidemic in Huntington, WV.
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The Netflix documentary “Heroin(e)” follows the efforts of three extraordinary West Virginia women—Jan Rader, Patricia Keller and Necia Freeman—as they work to fight the opioid epidemic in Huntington, WV.
The city of Huntington, WV, is one of the hardest hit places—if not the hardest hit place—in America when it comes to the current drug epidemic. This addiction crisis clearly hurts not only the users but their families, friends, co-workers, employees and community members. It also has devastating impacts on another, more vulnerable population: unborn and newborn babies.
Before Hershel “Woody” Williams became a Marine corporal and World War II veteran, a Medal of Honor recipient and veterans’ advocate, he was a taxi driver in Fairmont, WV, on the 6 p.m.-6 a.m. shift. He would sometimes also deliver Western Union telegrams to the families of fallen soldiers.
In 2012, HEALTHMEDX, a provider of information system solutions, reported that for every dollar spent in health care, more than 75 cents was being spent on the non-patient care activities of communicating, scheduling, coordinating, supervising and documenting care. According to the organization, waste in health care ranged between 30-40 percent nationally.
Growing up in Beaver, WV, Nick Underwood dreamed of becoming an astronaut.
“West Virginia is nothing short of beautiful, and growing up so close to so many parks really fostered a sense of adventure in me at a young age,” he says. “My parents helped with that too. They were always pushing me to do well in school, explore new things and ask questions.”
In a 1947 piece for the Morehouse College student newspaper, Martin Luther King Jr. wrote that the true goal of education is intelligence plus character. In this issue, which focuses on the Mountain State’s education industry, it is fitting that West Virginia Executive (WVE) is honoring a group of state leaders who never stop learning.