Using Informal Conversations to Understand Rural Appalachian Faith Community Engagement in Addressing Addiction
Andrea Clements, PhD, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, Uplift Appalachia, Johnson City, TN, Mary Jo Hedrick, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN
Introduction: Appalachia, recognized by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), spans 423 counties across 13 states. The region has strong ties to place, environment, and cultural traditions. However, Appalachians are often viewed as an internal “Other,” perceived as having an inferior culture compared to mainstream America. This stereotype has been perpetuated by media and academia, depicting Appalachians as incapable and dependent. The region has also been exploited by extractive industries and others, fueling both economic hardship and the opioid crisis. Despite these challenges, Appalachians maintain strong family and community support networks, with religion and spirituality playing significant roles in how they weather adversity.
Current Study: To address the mistrust of outsiders and leverage community strengths, this study employed a novel qualitative methodology to facilitate engagement with faith communities in rural Appalachia. Using a trauma- and resilience-informed framework, researchers used informal conversations as an entry point to build trust in rural Appalachian communities with a goal of gathering data on the impact of addiction and the role the faith community does or could play. This method, designed for marginalized communities, allows a more authentic understanding of individuals’ experiences and needs and reduces power differentials between researchers and participants. Two towns were visited. In each community, the first location visited was a local diner. The following locations visited were chosen based on recommendations in conversations held throughout each day.
Results: In the first rural town (population: ~1,800), substance use disorder (SUD) was a pervasive issue, with participants often connected to someone affected by SUD. The community’s efforts to combat SUD were hindered by distrust of local officials and skepticism about governmental initiatives. The local library emerged as a central resource, offering prevention-focused activities, social connection opportunities, and access to telehealth services. However, no churches were actively engaged in recovery efforts. In the second community (population: ~1,600), discussions about SUD were less open, suggesting lower community awareness or comfort. Individuals often held multiple roles to meet local needs. Faith-based organizations faced challenges balancing provision of assistance with concerns about enabling dependency. Despite these challenges, the community showed pride in its natural beauty and deep connection to place. Unlike Location 1, Location 2 had active church engagement in addressing addiction, including a sober living housing initiative and hosting recovery meetings.
Discussion: This method of data collection addresses concerns about the validity of traditional measures to capture information about SUD prevention, treatment, and recovery in rural Appalachia. The findings illustrate the complex interplay of institutional and grassroots efforts in addressing substance use, trauma, and poverty in rural Appalachian communities. Faith-based institutions, libraries, and community members each contribute uniquely to supporting individuals across generations. The study highlights the importance of building trust and leveraging community strengths to address addiction effectively.
Current Study: To address the mistrust of outsiders and leverage community strengths, this study employed a novel qualitative methodology to facilitate engagement with faith communities in rural Appalachia. Using a trauma- and resilience-informed framework, researchers used informal conversations as an entry point to build trust in rural Appalachian communities with a goal of gathering data on the impact of addiction and the role the faith community does or could play. This method, designed for marginalized communities, allows a more authentic understanding of individuals’ experiences and needs and reduces power differentials between researchers and participants. Two towns were visited. In each community, the first location visited was a local diner. The following locations visited were chosen based on recommendations in conversations held throughout each day.
Results: In the first rural town (population: ~1,800), substance use disorder (SUD) was a pervasive issue, with participants often connected to someone affected by SUD. The community’s efforts to combat SUD were hindered by distrust of local officials and skepticism about governmental initiatives. The local library emerged as a central resource, offering prevention-focused activities, social connection opportunities, and access to telehealth services. However, no churches were actively engaged in recovery efforts. In the second community (population: ~1,600), discussions about SUD were less open, suggesting lower community awareness or comfort. Individuals often held multiple roles to meet local needs. Faith-based organizations faced challenges balancing provision of assistance with concerns about enabling dependency. Despite these challenges, the community showed pride in its natural beauty and deep connection to place. Unlike Location 1, Location 2 had active church engagement in addressing addiction, including a sober living housing initiative and hosting recovery meetings.
Discussion: This method of data collection addresses concerns about the validity of traditional measures to capture information about SUD prevention, treatment, and recovery in rural Appalachia. The findings illustrate the complex interplay of institutional and grassroots efforts in addressing substance use, trauma, and poverty in rural Appalachian communities. Faith-based institutions, libraries, and community members each contribute uniquely to supporting individuals across generations. The study highlights the importance of building trust and leveraging community strengths to address addiction effectively.